Optimum replacement level of the soybean meal for processed horse eye bean meal (Mucuna urens) in the broiler finisher diet

The high cost of broiler production in Nigeria has been attributed to overdependence on the most expensive conventional protein sources. Hence the need to source for alternative but promising feedstuffs. A 28- day feeding trial was therefore conducted to determine the feeding processed horse eye bean meal (HEBM) in finisher broiler ration.Six experimental diets were formulated. Diet 1 was the control, while various quantities of HEBM was used to replace soy bean meal (SBM) in the control diet at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75% for diets 2,3,4,5, and 6, respectively. Two hundred and sixteen, 28 days old broilers used for the experiment were distributed on weight equalization basis into threereplicates of 36 birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. Data generated were statistically analysed and the significant means separated. The result showed that increased level of HEBM in the diet did not significantly (P>0.05) influence the final body weight, average weekly weight gain, average weekly feed intake and the feed conversion ratio. Equally, the weight of cut parts and internal organs were not statistically (P>0.05) affected. The cost/kg of feed, cost of feed consumed and cost/kg weight gain reduced significantly (P<0.05) with increase in thelevel of HEBM in the diet. It was concluded that up to 60% of the SBM in the broilers finisher diet could be replaced by processed HEBM for higher economics returns

Effect of exercise duration on postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in adolescents

High-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) is a potential intervention to manage hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance in adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum duration of HIIE to reduce postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in adolescents and the longevity of the response. Thirty-nine participants (12.4 ± 0.4 year) completed a 30- and 60-min exercise trial (Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test) and a rested control trial in a randomised crossover design. Capillary blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately and 1-h post-exercise; and 30, 60 and 120 min following a standardised lunch (day one) and a standardised breakfast 24-h post-exercise. Plasma insulin total area under the curve (tAUC) following lunch was lower following 60-min HIIE (21,754 ± 16,861 pmol·L−1 × 120 min, p = 0.032) and tended to be lower following 30-min HIIE (24,273 ± 16,131 pmol·L−1 × 120 min, p = 0.080), when compared with the resting condition (26,931 ± 21,634 pmol·L−1 × 120 min). Blood glucose concentration was lower 1-h post-exercise following 30-min HIIE (3.6 ± 0.6 mmol·L−1) when compared to resting (4.1 ± 0.9 mmol·L−1, p = 0.001). Blood glucose and plasma insulin concentration did not differ across trials on day two. Shorter bouts of HIIE (30-min), as well as a 60-min bout, reduced the postprandial insulinaemic response to lunch, an ecologically valid marker of insulin sensitivity. As the beneficial effects of HIIE were limited to 3 h post-exercise, adolescents are recommended to engage daily HIIE to enhance metabolic health

Predictors of postprandial glycaemia, insulinaemia and insulin resistance in adolescents

Postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of insulin resistance in adolescents is increasing, but it is unknown how adolescent participant characteristics such as BMI, waist circumference, fitness and maturity offset may explain responses to a standard meal. The aim of the present study was to examine how such participant characteristics affect the postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to an ecologically valid mixed meal. Data from the control trials of three separate randomised, crossover experiments were pooled, resulting in a total of 108 participants (52 boys, 56 girls; age: 12.5±0.6 y; BMI: 19.05±2.66 kg·m-2). A fasting blood sample was taken for the calculation of fasting insulin resistance, using the HOMA-IR model. Further capillary blood samples were taken before and 30-, 60- and 120-min after a standardised lunch, providing 1.5 g.kg-1 body mass of carbohydrate, for the quantification of blood glucose and plasma insulin total area under the curve (tAUC). Hierarchical multiple linear regression demonstrated significant predictors for plasma insulin tAUC were waist circumference, physical fitness and HOMA-IR (F(3, 98)=36.78, p<.001, Adj. R2=.515). The variance in blood glucose tAUC was not significantly explained by the predictors used (F(7, 94)=1.44, p=.198). Significant predictors for HOMA-IR were BMI and maturity offset (F(2, 102)=14.06, p<.001, Adj. R2=.021). In summary, the key findings of the study are that waist circumference, followed by physical fitness, best explained the insulinemic response to an ecologically valid standardised meal in adolescents. This has important behavioural consequences because these variables can be modified

The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in predicting mortality and morbidity in people with congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Protocol)

This is the final version. Available from BMC via the DOI in this record.Background Numerous studies have measured the prognostic associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and patient outcomes in congenital heart disease, but no systematic review has assessed these associations for all types of congenital heart disease. It is therefore a timely opportunity to syntheses all available data using a systematic review methodology. The aim of this study is to detail the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Objectives Within this paper we have developed a protocol for a prognostic factors systematic review and meta-analysis, to assess the role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing/cardiorespiratory fitness, in the prognosis of mortality and morbidity in congenital heart disease. Methods We have outlined, in detail, the process for this systematic review using the latest accepted methodological guidelines for prognostic factors research, such as the PICOTS system, CHARMS-PF data extraction, QUIPS risk of bias assessments and the prognostic GRADE guidelines (see list of abbreviations). Conclusion The implications of this review will aid future treatments, interventions and individual patient risk prediction. The publication of this protocol aims to improve scientific rigour by ensuring transparency in the systematic review and meta-analysis process.Canon Medical Systems UK Ltd.University of ExeterQUEX instituteMedical Research Counci

Blind trials of computer-assisted structure elucidation software

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>One of the largest challenges in chemistry today remains that of efficiently mining through vast amounts of data in order to elucidate the chemical structure for an unknown compound. The elucidated candidate compound must be fully consistent with the data and any other competing candidates efficiently eliminated without doubt by using additional data if necessary. It has become increasingly necessary to incorporate an <it>in silico </it>structure generation and verification tool to facilitate this elucidation process. An effective structure elucidation software technology aims to mimic the skills of a human in interpreting the complex nature of spectral data while producing a solution within a reasonable amount of time. This type of software is known as computer-assisted structure elucidation or CASE software. A systematic trial of the ACD/Structure Elucidator CASE software was conducted over an extended period of time by analysing a set of single and double-blind trials submitted by a global audience of scientists. The purpose of the blind trials was to reduce subjective bias. Double-blind trials comprised of data where the candidate compound was unknown to both the submitting scientist and the analyst. The level of expertise of the submitting scientist ranged from novice to expert structure elucidation specialists with experience in pharmaceutical, industrial, government and academic environments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Beginning in 2003, and for the following nine years, the algorithms and software technology contained within ACD/Structure Elucidator have been tested against 112 data sets; many of these were unique challenges. Of these challenges 9% were double-blind trials. The results of eighteen of the single-blind trials were investigated in detail and included problems of a diverse nature with many of the specific challenges associated with algorithmic structure elucidation such as deficiency in protons, structure symmetry, a large number of heteroatoms and poor quality spectral data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>When applied to a complex set of blind trials, ACD/Structure Elucidator was shown to be a very useful tool in advancing the computer's contribution to elucidating a candidate structure from a set of spectral data (NMR and MS) for an unknown. The synergistic interaction between humans and computers can be highly beneficial in terms of less biased approaches to elucidation as well as dramatic improvements in speed and throughput. In those cases where multiple candidate structures exist, ACD/Structure Elucidator is equipped to validate the correct structure and eliminate inconsistent candidates. Full elucidation can generally be performed in less than two hours; this includes the average spectral data processing time and data input.</p

Physiological adjustments to arid and mesic environments in larks (Alaudidae)

Because deserts are characterized by low food availability, high ambient temperature extremes, and absence of drinking water, one might expect that birds that live in these conditions exhibit a lower basal metabolic rate ( BMR), reduced total evaporative water loss (TEWL), and greater ability to cope with high air temperatures than their mesic counterparts. To minimize confounding effects of phylogeny, we compared the physiological performance of four species of larks at ambient temperatures (T-a's) ranging from 0degrees to 50degreesC: hoopoe larks (Alaemon alaudipes) and Dunn's larks ( Eremalauda dunni) live in hot and dry deserts, whereas skylarks (Alauda arvensis) and woodlarks (Lullula arborea) occur in temperate mesic areas. Mass-adjusted BMR and TEWL were indistinguishable between hoopoe lark and Dunn's lark and between skylark and woodlark. When grouping the data of the two desert larks in one set and the data of the two mesic larks in another, desert larks are shown to have 43% lower BMR levels and 27% lower TEWL values than the mesic species. Their body temperatures (T-b's) were 1.1degreesC lower, and the minimal dry heat transfer coefficients ( h) were 26% below values for the mesic larks. When T a exceeded T-b, the h of hoopoe larks and Dunn's larks was high and indistinguishable from h at 40 degreesC, in contrast to the prediction that h should be decreased to minimize heat gain through conductance, convection, or radiation from the environment when T-a exceeds T-b

Female economic dependence and the morality of promiscuity

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ The Author(s) 2014.In environments in which female economic dependence on a male mate is higher, male parental investment is more essential. In such environments, therefore, both sexes should value paternity certainty more and thus object more to promiscuity (because promiscuity undermines paternity certainty). We tested this theory of anti-promiscuity morality in two studies (N = 656 and N = 4,626) using U.S. samples. In both, we examined whether opposition to promiscuity was higher among people who perceived greater female economic dependence in their social network. In Study 2, we also tested whether economic indicators of female economic dependence (e.g., female income, welfare availability) predicted anti-promiscuity morality at the state level. Results from both studies supported the proposed theory. At the individual level, perceived female economic dependence explained significant variance in anti-promiscuity morality, even after controlling for variance explained by age, sex, religiosity, political conservatism, and the anti-promiscuity views of geographical neighbors. At the state level, median female income was strongly negatively related to anti-promiscuity morality and this relationship was fully mediated by perceived female economic dependence. These results were consistent with the view that anti-promiscuity beliefs may function to promote paternity certainty in circumstances where male parental investment is particularly important