Energy values of the soybean meal for laying hens in function of the levels of inclusion and of crude protein in the reference diet

This study had the objective toevaluate the values of apparent metabolizableenergy (AME) and nitrogen corrected apparentmetabolizable (AMEn), apparent metabolizabilitycoefficient (AMC) and nitrogen corrected apparentmetabolizability coefficient (AMCn) of soybeanmeal, determined with laying hens. The assay wasconstituted of a food test (soybean meal) and tworeference diets. The soybean meal replaced a totalof 14% and 19% of crude protein (CP) referencediet at the amount 7,5% of and 15%. To determin thevalues of AME and AMEn, has been used the totalexcreta colletion method, where 72 laying isabrownhens, were shared experimental random blocksdesign in a factorial outline 2x2 (substitution levelof soybean meal X CP level of the reference diet).There was significant interaction (P<0,05) betweenthe substitution levels of soybean meal and the CPlevels of the reference diet. Through the resultsgotten in this study, it can be inferred that the valuesfor EMA, EMAn, CMA and CMAn are influenced bythe crude protein levels in the ration reference (14and 19%), and also for the level of substitution (7,5and 15%) of the soybeam meal in the ration.O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar osvalores de energia metabolizável aparente (EMA),energia metabolizável aparente corrigida pelo balançode nitrogênio (EMAn), os coeficientes de metabolizabilidadeda energia aparente (CMA) e aparentecorrigida pelo balanço de nitrogênio (CMAn)do farelo de soja, determinados com poedeiras. Oensaio foi constituído de um alimento teste (farelode soja) e duas rações referências. O farelo de sojasubstitui em 7,5 e 15,0% duas rações referênciacontendo 14,0 e 19,0% de PB. Para determinaçãodos valores de EMA e EMAn foi utlizado o métodode coleta total de excretas, onde 72 poedeirasIsabrown foram distribuídas em um delineamentoexperimental em blocos ao acaso num esquema fatorial2x2 (nível de substituição do farelo de soja xnível de PB da ração referência). Houve interaçãosignificativa (P<0,05) entre os níveis de substituiçãodo farelo de soja e os níveis de PB da raçãoreferência. Através dos resultados obtidos nesseestudo, pode-se inferir que os valores para EMA,EMAn, CMA e CMAn são influenciados pelos níveisde proteína bruta da ração referência (14 e 19%),e também pelo nível de substituição (7,5 e 15%) dofarelo de soja

Populações microbianas e composição química de silagem de milho

Microbial populations, pH and chemical composition of corn silage, produced or not with bacterial inoculants, were examined in six periods of opening of the silos (1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days). Treatments were performed in a completely randomized block design, in a 6 x 3 factorial arrangement (six fermentation periods x three inoculants), with three replicates. The bacterial inoculants Kera Sil&reg; and Lacto Sil&reg;, as well as the control treatment (without inoculation) were evaluated.&nbsp; At 56 days of fermentation, the counts of lactic acid bacteria did not differ among treatments, and the treatment with inoculant Kera Sil&reg; had lower counts of fungi and mesophilic aerobes. The pH values did not differ among treatments. The contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash (A), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were not affected by the fermentation periods.Avaliaram-se as popula&ccedil;&otilde;es microbianas, o pH e a composi&ccedil;&atilde;o qu&iacute;mica de silagens de milho produzidas ou n&atilde;o com inoculantes bacterianos, em seis per&iacute;odos abertura dos silos (1, 3, 7, 14, 28 e 56 dias). Foi usado um arranjo fatorial 6 x 3 (seis per&iacute;odos de fermenta&ccedil;&atilde;o x tr&ecirc;s inoculantes), em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com tr&ecirc;s repeti&ccedil;&otilde;es. Avaliou-se os inoculantes microbianos Kera Sil&reg; e Lacto Sil&reg; e tratamento controle (sem inoculante). Aos 56 dias de fermenta&ccedil;&atilde;o, as contagens de bact&eacute;rias &aacute;cido&nbsp; l&aacute;cticas n&atilde;o diferiram entre os tratamentos e o tratamento contendo o inoculante Kera Sil&reg; apresentou menores contagens de fungos e de aer&oacute;bios mes&oacute;filos. Com rela&ccedil;&atilde;o aos valores de pH, n&atilde;o houve diferen&ccedil;a significativa entre os tratamentos. Os teores de mat&eacute;ria seca, prote&iacute;na bruta, mat&eacute;ria mineral, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente &aacute;cido n&atilde;o foram influenciados pelos per&iacute;odos de fermenta&ccedil;&atilde;o

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographic features in detecting thyroid cancer in the transition age: a meta-analysis

Context: Significant uncertainty exists about the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographic (US) features used to predict the risk of thyroid cancer in the pediatric population. Moreover, there are no specific indications for thyroid nodule evaluation in patients during the transition age. Objective: The meta-analysis aimed to address the following question: which thyroid nodule US features have the highest accuracy in predicting malignancy in the transition age. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of observational/cohort/diagnostic accuracy studies dealing with thyroid nodule sonography, reporting US features, and using histology as a reference standard for the diagnosis of malignancy and histology or cytology for the diagnosis of benignity in the transition age (mean/median age 12-21 years). Results: The inclusion criteria were met by 14 studies, published between 2005 and 2020, including 1306 thyroid nodules (mean size 17.9 mm) from 1168 subjects. The frequency of thyroid cancer was 36.6%. The US features with the highest diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for malignancy were the presence of suspicious lymph nodes (DOR: 56.0 (95% CI: 26.0-119.0)), a 'taller than wide' shape of the nodule (6.0 (95% CI: 2.0-16.0)), the presence of microcalcifications (13.0 (95% CI: 6.0-29.0)) and irregular margins (9.0 (95% CI: 5.0- 17.0)). Heterogeneity among the studies was substantial. Conclusions: Following the diagnosis of a thyroid nodule in the transition age, a thorough US examination of the neck is warranted. The detection of suspicious lymph nodes and/ or thyroid nodules with a 'taller than wide' shape, microcalcifications, and irregular margins is associated with the highest risk of malignancy in the selection of nodules candidates for biopsy

Entanglement-enhanced testing of multiple quantum hypotheses

Quantum hypothesis testing has been greatly advanced for the binary discrimination of two states, or two channels. In this setting, we already know that quantum entanglement can be used to enhance the discrimination of two bosonic channels. Here, we remove the restriction of binary hypotheses and show that entangled photons can remarkably boost the discrimination of multiple bosonic channels. More precisely, we formulate a general problem of channel-position finding where the goal is to determine the position of a target channel among many background channels. We prove that, using entangled photons at the input and a generalized form of conditional nulling receiver at the output, we may outperform any classical strategy. Our results can be applied to enhance a range of technological tasks, including the optical readout of sparse classical data, the spectroscopic analysis of a frequency spectrum, and the determination of the direction of a target at fixed range

T-junction droplet generator realised in lithium niobate crystals by laser ablation

AbstractA femtosecond laser at 800 nm was used to create micro-fluidic circuits on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrates by means of laser ablation, using different scanning velocities (100-500 μm/s) and laser pulse energies (1-20 μJ). The T-junction geometry was exploited to create on y-cut LiNbO3 crystals a droplet generator, whose microfluidic performance was characterized in a wide range of droplet generation frequencies, from few Hz to about 1 kHz

Associations between double-checking and medication administration errors: A direct observational study of paediatric inpatients

Background Double-checking the administration of medications has been standard practice in paediatric hospitals around the world for decades. While the practice is widespread, evidence of its effectiveness in reducing errors or harm is scarce. Objectives To measure the association between double-checking, and the occurrence and potential severity of medication administration errors (MAEs); check duration; and factors associated with double-checking adherence. Methods Direct observational study of 298 nurses, administering 5140 medication doses to 1523 patients, across nine wards, in a paediatric hospital. Independent observers recorded details of administrations and double-checking (independent; primed-one nurse shares information which may influence the checking nurse; incomplete; or none) in real time during weekdays and weekends between 07:00 and 22:00. Observational medication data were compared with patients' medical records by a reviewer (blinded to checking-status), to identify MAEs. MAEs were rated for potential severity. Observations included administrations where double-checking was mandated, or optional. Multivariable regression examined the association between double-checking, MAEs and potential severity; and factors associated with policy adherence. Results For 3563 administrations double-checking was mandated. Of these, 36 (1·0%) received independent double-checks, 3296 (92·5%) primed and 231 (6·5%) no/incomplete double-checks. For 1577 administrations double-checking was not mandatory, but in 26·3% (n=416) nurses chose to double-check. Where double-checking was mandated there was no significant association between double-checking and MAEs (OR 0·89 (0·65-1·21); p=0·44), or potential MAE severity (OR 0·86 (0·65-1·15); p=0·31). Where double-checking was not mandated, but performed, MAEs were less likely to occur (OR 0·71 (0·54-0·95); p=0·02) and had lower potential severity (OR 0·75 (0·57-0·99); p=0·04). Each double-check took an average of 6·4 min (107 hours/1000 administrations). Conclusions Compliance with mandated double-checking was very high, but rarely independent. Primed double-checking was highly prevalent but compared with single-checking conferred no benefit in terms of reduced errors or severity. Our findings raise questions about if, when and how double-checking policies deliver safety benefits and warrant the considerable resource investments required in modern clinical settings

Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, -10, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 are associated with vascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes: The EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study

Impaired regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) may contribute to vascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes. We investigated associations between plasma MMP-1, -2, -3, -9, -10 and TIMP-1, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or microvascular complications in type 1 diabetic patients. We also evaluated to which extent these associations could be explained by low-grade inflammation (LGI) or endothelial dysfunction (ED). Methods: 493 type 1 diabetes patients (39.5 ± 9.9 years old, 51% men) from the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study were included. Linear regression analysis was applied to investigate differences in plasma levels of MMP-1, -2, -3, -9, -10, and TIMP-1 between patients with and without CVD, albuminuria or retinopathy. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, duration of diabetes, Hba1c and additionally for other cardiovascular risk factors including LGI and ED. Results: Patients with CVD (n = 118) showed significantly higher levels of TIMP-1 [β = 0.32 SD (95%CI: 0.12; 0.52)], but not of MMPs, than patients without CVD (n = 375). Higher plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-10 and TIMP-1 were associated with higher levels of albuminuria (p-trends were 0.028, 0.004, 0.005 and 0.001, respectively). Severity of retinopathy was significantly associated with higher levels of MMP-2 (p-trend = 0.017). These associations remained significant after further adjustment for markers of LGI and ED. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that impaired regulation of matrix remodeling by actions of MMP-2, -3 and-10 and TIMP-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of vascular complications in type 1 diabetes