Inclusion of Secale cereale and Pentosanases in the Ration of Laying Hens: Exploring its Effect on Egg Production and Concentrate Intake and Searching the Optimal Combination in a Diet

Background and Objective: Antinutritional factors are usually found in cereals, these correspond to molecular complexes structured by carbohydrates present in the grains, which increase the viscosity of the food bolus, resulting in diminished organic matter digestibility, food intake and egg production. These polymers are known as soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs). The objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of incorporating Secale cereale (SEc) and pentosanases (EEp) in the diets of laying hens (Lohmann LSL hybrid) on their egg production (EP) and concentrate consumption (CC), optimal combination between the main factors was estimated for EP and CC. Materials and Methods: The trial was carried out on a commercial egg-producing poultry farm (Valparaíso Region, Chile). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with a 4×5 factorial arrangement of two factors (four levels for SEc and five levels for EEp). Ten repetitions were used per treatment, where each experimental unit corresponded to one cage with five hens. A contour curvature analysis was carried out to determine the optimal level of inclusion of SEc with EEp. The experimental period lasted 84 days. Results: There was an interaction effect of SEc and EEp on EP and CC. The optimum level of inclusion for EP was 200 g kg–1 SEc and 1 g kg–1 EEp, with average production of 396 units, for CC, the optimum value observed corresponded to 200 g kg–1 SEc with 0.5 g kg–1 EEp (47.56 kg). The lowest EP and CC responses, regardless of the EEp level in the diet, was observed with the inclusion of 600 g kg–1 SEc. The contour area curvature analysis for EP gave a high response curve zone between 130-390 g kg–1 SEc and 0.38-1.57 g kg–1 EEp, the highest response levels for CC were 120-350 g kg–1 SEc and 0.43-1.75 g kg–1 EEp. Conclusion: In this research it was possible to establish that high level of SEc inclusion in the diet affects negatively eggs production and concentrate intake. However, when pentosanases are included in the diet improve these variables. These results suggest possible antinutritional factors of SEc that could have caused negative effects on the hens' physiological response

Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 due to novel variants of SCNN1B gene.

UnlabelledAutosomal recessive pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare disorder characterized by sodium wasting, failure to thrive, hyperkalemia, hypovolemia and metabolic acidosis. It is due to mutations in the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and is characterized by diminished response to aldosterone. Patients may present with life-threatening hyperkalemia, which must be recognized and appropriately treated. A 32-year-old female was referred to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for evaluation of hyperkalemia and muscle pain. Her condition started in the second week of life, when she was brought to an outside hospital lethargic and unresponsive. At that time, she was hypovolemic, hyperkalemic and acidotic, and was eventually treated with sodium bicarbonate and potassium chelation. At the time of the presentation to the NIH, her laboratory evaluation revealed serum potassium 5.1 mmol/l (reference range: 3.4-5.1 mmol/l), aldosterone 2800 ng/dl (reference range: ≤21 ng/dl) and plasma renin activity 90 ng/ml/h (reference range: 0.6-4.3 ng/ml per h). Diagnosis of PHA1 was suspected. Sequencing of the SCNN1B gene, which codes for ENaC, revealed that the patient is a compound heterozygote for two novel variants (c.1288delC and c.1466+1 G>A), confirming the suspected diagnosis of PHA1. In conclusion, we report a patient with novel variants of the SCNN1B gene causing PHA1 with persistent, symptomatic hyperkalemia.Learning pointsPHA1 is a rare genetic condition, causing functional abnormalities of the amiloride-sensitive ENaC.PHA1 was caused by previously unreported SCNN1B gene mutations (c.1288delC and c.1466+1 G>A).Early recognition of this condition and adherence to symptomatic therapy is important, as the electrolyte abnormalities found may lead to severe dehydration, cardiac arrhythmias and even death.High doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate are required for symptomatic treatment

Acceleration of the Surface Test Integral Using Vertex Functions

In recent years, many papers have reported on the efficient and accurate evaluation of the double surface integrals that arise in the Method of Moments. Most have focused on the careful evaluation of the inner integral and assumed that the outer integral is sufficiently smooth to be easily evaluated numerically. More recently, several papers have appeared where the double integral is treated as a whole using the divergence theorem. These papers show promising results, though their implementation may imply changes to the integration paradigm for the associated codes. Here, instead, we investigate a technique that improves the numerical evaluation of the test integral without affecting the treatment of the source integral. From the integrand of the outer integral, we subtract pairs of quasi-static, so-called vertex functions defined on the source triangle. The approach is compared to standard Gauss-triangle schemes to demonstrate its effectiveness

Evaluation of Static Potential Integrals on Triangular Domains

Static potential integrals for constant and linear sources on triangles are derived in a straightforward way. The new representations, as presented, are robust with respect to machine evaluation in important limiting cases. The potential integrals comprise up to six functions, each dependent on the relative position and orientation (with respect to an observation point) of a vertex and edge, respectively, of the source triangle. Gradients of the potentials are derived by differentiation, thus preserving relations between the representations. Each such vertex function reveals any anomalous functional behavior near its associated vertex or edge, which is useful information for devising test integral schemes. Potential plots in the source plane of an equilateral triangle illustrate such behavior, as do similar plots for each vertex function and gradient components near their associated edge and vertex

6-D MoM Reaction Integrals Evaluated via the Divergence Theorem

In this contribution we propose an accurate and efficient numerical evaluation of 6-D reaction integrals that appear in the Method of Moment (MoM) discretization of Volume Integral Equations (VIEs)

Last-come, best served? Mosquito biting order and Plasmodium transmission

International audienceA pervasive characteristic of parasite infections is their tendency to be overdispersed. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this overdispersed distribution is of key importance as it may impact the transmission dynamics of the pathogen. Although multiple factors ranging from environmental stochasticity to inter-individual heterogeneity may explain parasite overdispersion, parasite infection is also overdispersed in an inbred host population maintained under laboratory conditions, suggesting that other mechanisms are at play. Here, we show that the aggregated distribution of malaria parasites within mosquito vectors is partially explained by a temporal heterogeneity in parasite infectivity triggered by the bites of mosquitoes. Parasite transmission tripled between the mosquito's first and last blood feed in a period of only 3 h. Surprisingly, the increase in transmission is not associated with an increase in parasite investment in production of the transmissible stage. Overall, we highlight that Plasmodium is capable of responding to the bites of mosquitoes to increase its own transmission at a much faster pace than initially thought and that this is partly responsible for overdispersed distribution of infection. We discuss the underlying mechanisms as well as the broader implications of this plastic response for the epidemiology of malaria

Simplificación administrativa y percepción de la calidad de servicios de la Unidad de Grados y Títulos en egresados

Objective. Determine compliance with administrative simplification and the perception of the quality of services of the Unit of Degrees and Titles in graduates of Professional Schools of the National University Hermilio Valdizan (UNHEVAL) of Huánuco. Methods. The research was quantitative, explanatory level and the analysis-synthesis, inductive-deductive methods were used; The sample consisted of 85 graduates, stratified from the 27 professional careers. As techniques for data collection, the survey and documentary review were used; as instruments the cards and the questionnaire. We proceeded to tabulate the data and prepare tables and graphs to analyze the results. The design was non-experimental, transactional, descriptive and causal. Results. The results showed that the procedures in the Unit are cumbersome, repetitive, the established deadlines and times are not met, the graduates do not receive orientation and courteous treatment, which generates continuous claims and complaints, modern technology is not used; likewise, graduates perceive that the staff is not trained for the service. Conclusion. The Unit does not comply with administrative simplification, with unnecessary requirements, it lacks modern technology and infrastructure to provide a quality service, the staff lacks the skills to offer an efficient service, generating mistrust in the graduates who perceive the quality of the service as poor.Objetivo. Determinar el cumplimiento de la simplificación administrativa y la percepción de la calidad de servicios de la Unidad de Grados y Títulos en egresados de escuelas profesionales de la Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán (UNHEVAL) de Huánuco. Métodos. La investigación fue cuantitativa, de nivel explicativo y fueron utilizados los métodos de análisis-síntesis, inductivo-deductivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por 85 egresados, estratificados de las 27 carreras profesionales. Como técnicas para la recolección de datos se utilizaron la encuesta y revisión documental; como instrumentos las fichas y el cuestionario. Se procedió a la tabulación de los datos y elaboración de tablas y gráficos para analizar los resultados. El diseño fue no experimental, transeccional, descriptivo y causal. Resultados. Los resultados evidenciaron que los trámites en la Unidad son engorrosos, repetitivos, no se cumplen los plazos y tiempos establecidos, los egresados no reciben orientación y trato cortes, lo que genera continuos reclamos y quejas, no se utiliza tecnología moderna; asimismo, los egresados perciben que el personal no está capacitado para el servicio. Conclusión. En la Unidad no se cumple con la simplificación administrativa, con requisitos innecesarios, se carece de tecnología moderna e infraestructura para brindar un servicio de calidad, el personal carece de competencias para ofrecer un servicio eficiente, generando desconfianza en los egresados quienes perciben la calidad del servicio como deficiente

Perturbaciones debidas a efluentes domésticos en poliquetos asociados a bancos de bivalvos de Brachidontes rodriguezii en Mar de Plata (Atlántico sudoccidental)

Continuous and short-term disturbances are produced on intertidal Brachidontes rodriguezii mussel beds by the sewage outfall of Mar del Plata, SW Atlantic. The effects on the associated polychaetes living on and between mussels were investigated, in both the spatial and short-term temporal scales. Multivariate methods show that the polychaete fauna was influenced by tidal level, total amount of sediment accumulated between mussels, distance from the sewage outfall, organic carbon of interstitial sediments, and sewage volume before and after the summer season. Environmental variables in the water column fitted with a spatial and temporal organic gradient. Capitella ‘capitata’ sp. showed typical opportunistic behaviour in relation to organic enrichment, as did Neanthes succinea, both being numerically dominant near the sewage discharge. Cirratulus sp., Caulleriella alata, and Boccardia polybranchia were common at intermediate distances from the outfall. Syllis prolixa, S. gracilis, and Protoariciella uncinata reached their highest abundance at intermediate stations and were characteristic of the control site. Close to the outfall mussel density and dominance is low, and opportunist polychaetes successfully colonize organically enriched interstitial sediments. At intermediate distances from the outfall sediments retained by mussels reach their maximum values, and density of polychaetes is also high. The control station is characterized by monolayered mussel beds and very low diversity of polychaetes. Opportunistic polychaetes increase in response to short-term increases of sewage discharge during the summer season (November-March).Perturbaciones contínuas y de corto período de tiempo debidas a efluentes domésticos afectan a los bancos de los bivalvos Brachidontes rodriguezii en Mar del Plata, Atlántico sudoccidental. Se investigaron sus efectos sobre los poliquetos que viven asociados dentro y sobre los bancos, tanto en la escala espacial como la temporal (corto plazo). Métodos multivariados mostraron que los poliquetos estuvieron relacionados al nivel de marea, al total de sedimentos acumulados entre los bivalvos, a la distancia al efluente, al carbono orgánico total de los sedimentos y al volumen de descarga antes y después del verano. Las variables ambientales de la columna de agua estuvieron en concordancia con un gradiente de enriquecimiento orgánico espacial y temporal. Capitella ‘capitata’ sp. mostró el típico comportamiento oportunista en relación al enriquecimiento orgánico, al igual que Neanthes succinea, siendo ambas especies numéricamente dominantes cerca del efluente. Cirratulus sp., Caulleriella alata y Boccardia polybranchia fueron comunes a distancias intermedias del efluente. Syllis prolixa, S. gracilis y Protoariciella uncinata alcanzaron sus más altas abundancias a distancias intermedias, pero fueron características del sitio control. Cerca de la descarga del efluente la densidad y dominancia de bivalvos es baja, y los poliquetos oportunistas colonizaron exitosamente los sedimentos intersticiales enriquecidos orgánicamente. A distancias intermedias del efluente los sedimentos retenidos por los bivalvos alcanzaron sus mayores valores, y la riqueza de los poliquetos fue también alta. Las áreas control estuvieron caracterizadas por una monocapa de bivalvos y muy baja riqueza de poliquetos. Los poliquetos oportunistas incrementaron sus abundancias en respuesta al incremento del volumen de descarga en el período antes-después del verano (noviembre-marzo). &nbsp

Reducing the Dimensionality of 6-D MoM Integrals Applying Twice the Divergence Theorem

In this paper we propose a scheme for evaluating the 6-D interaction integrals appearing in volume integral equation solved with the Method of Moments and tetrahedral elements. We treat as a whole the double volume integral, applying the divergence theorem first on the source domain and then on the test domain. With the proper variable transformation and reordering, the 6-D integrals are expressed as two radial integrals plus four linear integrals over the source and observation domain planes