Efficiency of dairy rations containing various quantities of grain

The dairy cow is particularly well adapted for consuming and utilizing large quantities of roughages, though she responds well to grain feeding. The relative quantities of roughage and grain that should be fed are usually determined by the physiologic effects and economic efficiencies of such rations when fed to dairy cattle. One would hardly expect high.producing cows to maintain a high yield when consuming roughage alone, because such a ration is so bulky that it prevents the intake of sufficient nutrients for maximum production. And yet, very good results have been obtained in certain areas by such a system of feeding. Then, too, the nutrients of roughage crops are usually produced at considerably less cost than those of grain crops (17) (3). Furthermore, rough. ages are more plentiful on most farms than grain crops, especially in recent years when there has been a marked increase in the production of hay and pasture crops at some sacrifice of grain production. Under these conditions the advisability of supplementing roughage rations with grain becomes a question of interest to dairy farmers

Impact of vitamin A on clinical outcomes in haemodialysis patients

Background. Patients on maintenance haemodialysis treatment experience an excessive risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The vitamin A concentration is known to be higher in these patients compared to the general population where elevated vitamin A concentrations are associated with adverse outcome. The impact of vitamin A on morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients is controversial and is the topic of this study. Methods. We analysed plasma retinol and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in 1177 diabetic haemodialysis patients, who participated in the German Diabetes and Dialysis Study (median follow-up 4 years). By Cox regression analyses hazard ratios (HRs) were determined for pre-specified, adjudicated end points according to baseline concentrations. Results. Patients had a mean age of 66 ± 8 years, mean retinol and RBP4 concentrations of 3.28 (0.71-7.44) and 4.02 (1.28-10.1) μmol/L, respectively. Patients with retinol concentrations in the first quartile (3.9 μmol/L; HR 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43-2.30]. There was a strong association between low retinol and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD, HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.41-3.50) and fatal infection (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.26-3.82). Patients with RBP4 concentrations in the lowest quartile (<3.0 μmol/L) were more likely to die of any cause (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.80), experience SCD (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.28-3.03) and cardiovascular events (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.10-1.85). Conclusion. This large cohort study shows a strong association of low retinol and RBP4 concentrations with SCD and all-cause mortality in diabetic haemodialysis patient

Thermal noise limitations to force measurements with torsion pendulums: Applications to the measurement of the Casimir force and its thermal correction

A general analysis of thermal noise in torsion pendulums is presented. The specific case where the torsion angle is kept fixed by electronic feedback is analyzed. This analysis is applied to a recent experiment that employed a torsion pendulum to measure the Casimir force. The ultimate limit to the distance at which the Casimir force can be measured to high accuracy is discussed, and in particular the prospects for measuring the thermal correction are elaborated upon.Comment: one figure, five pages, to be submitted to Phys Rev

Elevated sea temperature combined with dietary methionine levels affect feed intake and appetite-related neuropeptide expression in the brains of juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

This study aimed to determine the impact of elevated temperature combined with different levels of dietary methionine concentrations on feed intake (FI) and brain expression of selected neuropeptides and one receptor involved in appetite control in juvenile cobia (approximately 3.7 g body weight). The genes studies were neuropeptide y, npy; agouti-related protein, agrp; cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, cart; cholecystokinin, cck and melanocortin 4 receptor; mc4r. The cobia were reared at typical sea water temperature in Vietnam (30 degrees C) and elevated temperature (34 degrees C; selected as one of the predicted scenarios of climate change). The fish were fed diets with different levels of methionine: deficient (M9; 9.1 g/kg), sufficient (M12; 12.8 g/kg) and surplus (M16, 16.8 g/kg) for 6 weeks (triplicate tanks per treatment). Both dietary methionine concentration and temperature affected FI in cobia. Dietary methionine deficiency (i.e., M9) and elevated temperature reduced FI in cobia. Temperature significantly influenced the mRNA expression of agrp, cart, cck and mc4r. Expression of the orexigenic neuropeptide npy was consistently higher before the meal than after the meal for all diets and at both temperatures. At 30 degrees C, prefeeding levels of npy correlated with both increased methionine levels and FI. The interaction between dietary methionine and temperature on the levels of brain npy expression was significant (P<0.05). There was higher brain expression of agrp, cart and cck in cobia at 34 degrees C than in fish at 30 degrees C, which was correlated with a lower FI. In conclusion, both feeding, temperature and/or dietary methionine levels affected the brain expression of npy and agrp, cart, cck and mc4r. This suggests that these neuropeptides as well as the mc4r receptor are actively involved in adjusting feed intake to compensate for changing energetic demands, as well as metabolic adjustments due to the variable availability of methionine at elevated temperature.LA/P/0101/2020; QZA-0485 SRV-13/0010info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of increased rearing temperature on digestive function in cobia early juvenile

The present study is focused to elucidate the main characteristics of the digestive function of this carnivorous fast-growing fish living at high temperatures. With this aim, we have examined the effects of an increased temperature from 30 to 34 °C on the daily pattern of gastrointestinal pH, enzymatic proteolytic digestive activity and the feed transit time in early juveniles of cobia (Rachycentron canadum), a species living in tropical and subtropical waters with an increasing aquaculture production. Fish were fed two meals a day. Gastric luminal pH was permanently acidic (mean pH values: 2.76-4.74) while the intestinal pH increased from neutral/slightly acidic to slightly alkaline when the digesta was present, with an increasing alkalinity from proximal to distal intestine (mean pH values: 6.05 to 7.69). The temperature did not affect the gastric pH but a slightly higher acidity was induced in the intestine at 34 °C. Pepsin activity showed a daily rhythm at 30 °C with maximum in the middle of the light period, while at 34 °C some hourly changes coinciding with feed adding without a clear daily trend during the 24-h period were observed. The trypsin activity exhibited a daily rhythm at both temperatures with an increase after morning feeding to reach a maximum several hours later. Average pepsin activity during the daily cycle was slightly higher at 34 °C (6.1 and 7.3 U mg-1 BW at 30 and 34 °C respectively), but values were significantly different only at 8 and 24 h after the morning meal. Similarly, the trypsin activity was significantly affected by the temperature only at 8 and 16 h after the morning meal, but daily activity averages were similar (1.20 and 1.29 U g-1 BW at 30 and 34 °C respectively). The partial transit rates of the first meal in the stomach for each period inter-samplings were higher during the first 4-h period and decreased progressively along the rest of the 24-h cycle at both temperatures, but no significant differences were detected at 30 °C. In addition, the transit was notably faster at 34 °C particularly during the first 8 h after feeding, with rates between 100 and 65% of total volume displaced (intake or released) during each 4-h period. In the intestine the transit rate was relatively constant and similar at both temperatures during 12 h after feeding. Then the rates remained very low during the following 12 h. Residence time of the first meal was longer at 30 than at 34 °C, particularly in the stomach (12 h:02 min vs 4 h:54 min respectively). In the intestine the difference was not so large (8 h:18 min vs 6 h:24 min respectively). In a parallel study under same conditions, cobia reared at 30 °C grew faster and showed a more favorable feed conversion ratio than those at elevated temperature (34 °C). The present results indicate that at 34 °C, a subtle increase of proteolytic activity cannot compensate for the faster gut transit rate. Therefore, 30 °C is more appropriate temperature for the early on-growing of cobia because at higher temperatures the digestion efficiency decrease being one of the causes for a lower growth.Agência financiadora European Union (EU) 691150 MINECO, Spain + FEDER/ERDF contribution EFISHDIGESTAGL2014-52888 European Social Fund, the Operational Programme Human Potential IF/00482/2014/CP1217/CT0005 Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UDI/Multi/04326/2013 Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation NORHED QZA-0485 SRV-13/0010info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elevated sea temperature combined with dietary methionine levels affect feed intake and appetite-related neuropeptide expression in the brains of juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

This study aimed to determine the impact of elevated temperature combined with different levels of dietary methionine concentrations on feed intake (FI) and brain expression of selected neuropeptides and one receptor involved in appetite control in juvenile cobia (approximately 3.7 g body weight). The genes studies were neuropeptide y, npy; agouti-related protein, agrp; cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, cart; cholecystokinin, cck and melanocortin 4 receptor; mc4r. The cobia were reared at typical sea water temperature in Vietnam (30 °C) and elevated temperature (34°C; selected as one of the predicted scenarios of climate change). The fish were fed diets with different levels of methionine: deficient (M9; 9.1 g/kg), sufficient (M12; 12.8 g/kg) and surplus (M16, 16.8 g/kg) for 6 weeks (triplicate tanks per treatment). Both dietary methionine concentration and temperature affected FI in cobia. Dietary methionine deficiency (i.e., M9) and elevated temperature reduced FI in cobia. Temperature significantly influenced the mRNA expression of agrp, cart, cck and mc4r. Expression of the orexigenic neuropeptide npy was consistently higher before the meal than after the meal for all diets and at both temperatures. At 30°C, prefeeding levels of npy correlated with both increased methionine levels and FI. The interaction between dietary methionine and temperature on the levels of brain npy expression was significant (P<0.05). There was higher brain expression of agrp, cart and cck in cobia at 34°C than in fish at 30°C, which was correlated with a lower FI. In conclusion, both feeding, temperature and/or dietary methionine levels affected the brain expression of npy and agrp, cart, cck and mc4r. This suggests that these neuropeptides as well as the mc4r receptor are actively involved in adjusting feed intake to compensate for changing energetic demands, as well as metabolic adjustments due to the variable availability of methionine at elevated temperature.publishedVersio

Increasing Parenting Self-Efficacy Through a Community Partnership in Akron, Ohio

Background: The Nurturing Family Program (NFP) is a family-centered educational curriculum designed to equip parents with tools and techniques to support a nurturing relationship with their child. While there have been many evaluations of the NFP, no evaluations to date measure how the curriculum may influence parenting self-efficacy, how confident a caregiver feels about their ability to foster their child’s development and success, or parenting stress. Methods: This community-based interventional study used a convenience sample of families recruited from community agencies or within a pediatric medical center. Families with one or more children aged 0 to 5 years, premature infants or an infant discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and/or adolescent parents were invited to participate in NFP. Participants were recruited from community agencies that were most likely to work with populations meeting program eligibility criteria. The NFP was offered as in-home and community-based sessions. The primary outcome of interest was perceived parental self-efficacy, measured using the Tool to Measure Parenting Efficacy (TOPSE) at weeks 1, 5, and 10. The secondary outcome of interest was perceived level of stress, as measured by a visual analog scale each week. Results: Participants of community-based sessions (n=45) experienced a significant increase in parenting self-efficacy at week 10, compared to week 1 and week 5 (p &lt;0.01). Overall, participants of the community-based sessions experienced an average increase of 17.7 points on the TOPSE scale (p =0.014). Across all participants (n=79), each session attended resulted in a modest, but significant, 3% reduction in stress (p =0.021). Conclusion: The NFP improved parental self -efficacy among participants of the community-based sessions and reduced perceived stress for all participants

Development of a new salmon salting smoking method and process monitoring by impedance spectroscopy

[EN] In this work two objectives were proposed: (i) to optimize a new salmon salting smoking method using vacuum packaging and (ii) to evaluate the application of impedance spectroscopy (IS) to the on-line monitoring of the process. Different processing conditions were evaluated (4 smoke flavoring (SF) salt concentrations, 3 salting times, salting in vacuum or in air). Physico-chemical analyses and IS measurements were performed with three different sensors during the process. Salting with 16 g SF salt/100 g fish in vacuum packaging provided smoked salmon similar to products currently available on the market. This new method has the advantages of reducing processing times and waste. IS measurements were carried out by three different electrodes. The most appropriate sensor for process monitoring was a needle electrode, with which robust prediction models for NaCl content, moisture and a,,, during the salting smoking process were obtained. The results showed the potential of IS as a rapid on-line monitoring method of the salmon salting smoking process. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for the work reported here received from the Generalitat Valenciana (GV/2011/098) and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) (PAID-06-09-2940). A. Fuentes would like to thank the Campus de Excelencia Internacional at the UPV for its support. The proof-reading of this paper was funded by the UPV, Spain.Rizo Párraga, AM.; Fuentes López, A.; Fernández Segovia, I.; Masot Peris, R.; Alcañiz Fillol, M.; Barat Baviera, JM. (2013). Development of a new salmon salting smoking method and process monitoring by impedance spectroscopy. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 51(1):218-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2012.09.025S21822451

Micronutrient supplementation affects DNA methylation in male gonads with potential intergenerational epigenetic inheritance involving the embryonic development through glutamate receptor-associated genes

Background DNA methylation has an important role in intergenerational inheritance. An increasing number of studies have reported evidence of germline inheritance of DNA methylation induced by nutritional signals in mammals. Vitamins and minerals as micronutrients contribute to growth performance in vertebrates, including Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and also have a role in epigenetics as environmental factors that alter DNA methylation status. It is important to understand whether micronutrients in the paternal diet can influence the offspring through alterations of DNA methylation signatures in male germ cells. Results Here, we show the effect of micronutrient supplementation on DNA methylation profiles in the male gonad through a whole life cycle feeding trial of Atlantic salmon fed three graded levels of micronutrient components. Our results strongly indicate that micronutrient supplementation affects the DNA methylation status of genes associated with cell signalling, synaptic signalling, and embryonic development. In particular, it substantially affects DNA methylation status in the promoter region of a glutamate receptor gene, glutamate receptor ionotropic, NMDA 3A-like (grin3a-like), when the fish are fed both medium and high doses of micronutrients. Furthermore, two transcription factors, histone deacetylase 2 (hdac2) and a zinc finger protein, bind to the hyper-methylated site in the grin3a-like promoter. An estimated function of hdac2 together with a zinc finger indicates that grin3a-like has a potential role in intergenerational epigenetic inheritance and the regulation of embryonic development affected by paternal diet. Conclusions The present study demonstrates alterations of gene expression patterns and DNA methylation signatures in the male gonad when Atlantic salmon are fed different levels of micronutrients. Alterations of gene expression patterns are of great interest because the gonads are supposed to have limited metabolic activities compared to other organs, whereas alterations of DNA methylation signatures are of great importance in the field of nutritional epigenetics because the signatures affected by nutrition could be transferred to the next generation. We provide extensive data resources for future work in the context of potential intergenerational inheritance through the male germline