Supplementing diets for broilers that are low in crude protein and amino acids with protease

The study evaluated supplementation of broiler diets with a protease enzyme. Six hundred Ross 308 female broiler chicks were acquired at one day of age and randomly distributed to three treatments with five replicates of 40 chicks each. The experimental treatements consisted of i) a positive control diet with normal levels of crude protein, digestible lysine and digestible sulphur containing amino acids (PC); ii) a negative diet with reduced levels of crude protein, digestible lysine and digestible sulphur containg amino acids (NC); and iii) the NC diet augmented with Ronozyme ProAct protease at 200 mg/kg (NC+ENZY). Compared to the other diets, feeding the PC produced the highest final bodyweight (BW), bodyweight gain (BWG), and feed intake (FI) and best feed conversion ratio (FCR) over 0 - 42 days. The PC diet also produced the highest hot and cold carcass yields, ileal protein digestibility and improved the serum biochemistry parameters. Relative to the NC, the NC+ENZY diet increased BW, BWG and FI, improved FCR, increased ileal protein digestibility, hot and cold carcass yields, and the crude protein content of meat. However, it decreased serum triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels and the crude fat content of meat of broilers. As a result, protease supplementation at the level of 200 mg/kg may not remove the detrimental effects that are caused by a 6% reduction in crude protein and digestible amino acids on performance, hot and cold carcass yields and ileal digestibility of crude protein of broilers. Keywords: broiler, growth performance, low crude protein diet, meat, nutrient digestibility, protease, serum biochemistry parameter

Effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) on growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of different doses of sage extract on the growth and blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges. In total, 252 day-old partridges (Alectoris chukar) were used. The birds were divided into four groups: 0.1% flavomycin was included in the diet of the control group (I) while 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mL sage extract/kg were included in the diets of treatment groups II, III and IV, respectively. At the end of the experiment no significant differences between treatments were observed in live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and survival rate. In addition, blood analyses indicated that the differences between groups in the amounts of plasma cholesterol, triglyceride high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) were not significantly different. Furthermore, treatments did not affect total sulphydryl (SH) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) concentrations, total antioxidant response or the total oxidant status (TOS). However, sage extract significantly decreased DNA damage in a linear, dose-dependent manner whilst the antibiotic, flavomycin, elevated the oxidative stress index (OSI) and resulted in DNA damage. It was concluded that supplementing sage extract in the partridge diet at the doses studied does not lead to a negative effect on the growth performance of these birds. Keywords: Salvia officinalis, Alectoris chukar, growth performance, blood parameters, DNA damage South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 38 (2) 2008: pp. 145-15

Calculation of the infrared frequency and the damping constant (full width at half maximum) for metal organic frameworks

The rho(NH2) infrared (IR) frequencies and the corresponding full width at half maximum (FWHM) values for (CH3)(2)(NH2FeMII)-M-III(HCOO)(6) (DMFeM, M = Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mg) are analyzed at various temperatures by using the experimental data from the literature. For the analysis of the IR frequencies of the rho(NH2) mode which is associated with the structural phase transitions in those metal structures, the temperature dependence of the mode frequency is assumed as an order parameter and the IR frequencies are calculated by using the molecular field theory. Also, the temperature dependence of the IR frequencies and of the damping constant as calculated from the models of pseudospin (dynamic disorder of dimethylammonium (DMA(+)) cations)-phonon coupling (PS) and of the energy fluctuation (EF), is fitted to the observed data for the wavenumber and FWHM of the rho(NH2) IR mode of the niccolites studied here. We find that the observed behavior of the IR frequencies and the FWHM of this mode can be described adequately by the models studied for the crystalline structures of interest. This method of calculating the frequencies (IR and Raman) and FWHM of modes which are responsible for the phase transitions can also be applied to some other metal organic frameworks

Thermodynamic quantities at high pressures in the i and θ phases of solid nitrogen deduced by raman frequency shifts for the internal modes in literature

The pressure dependence of the Raman frequencies of the internal modes is analyzed (T = 300 K) for the phases i and θ of solid nitrogen using the experimental data from the literature. Through the mode Grüneisen parameter, the isothermal compressibility κT, thermal expansion p and the specific heat Cp-Cv are calculated as a function of pressure using the Raman data in these phases. We obtain that the p varies linearly with the (1/υ)(∂υ/∂P) T and also that the Cp-Cv varies linearly with the p for N2. Our results show that by means of the analysis given here, the p, κT and C p-Cv can be predicted from the Raman frequency shifts for the i and θ phases of solid nitrogen. © 2013 World Scientific Publishing Company

Assessment of knowledge and attitudes toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) amongst Turkish medical faculty students

Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies are becoming increasingly  acceptable to the general public and are increasingly used around the world. The international rise in focus  on CAM and the increased incorporation of CAM into medical curricula make it important to gain insight into the knowledge and attitudes of medical students about CAM and its integration in the medical curriculum.Materials and Methods: In this present study, we attempt to investigate the Cerrahpasa medical faculty students’ knowledge, attitude and practices of the students on CAM. The study used a primary  cross-sectional data collection from students of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, in  2012-2013 academic years.Results: Students’ knowledge of CAM between classes was also compared. There were also statistically  significant differences about the knowledge of those methods (acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, reiki, prayer, meditation massage, dietary, spa). Prayer was the most known modality in all medical classes’ students (first year students: 254, sixth year students: 192). The students who participated in the study stated that 433 (%59.4) have some knowledge about the acupuncture (first year students: 229, sixth  year students: 204). Acupressure was found to be at least known methods for CAM (first year students:  313, sixth year students: 282).Conclusion: Medical students in our faculty had limited knowledge about CAM therapies. Medical  students also have an understanding of the importance of CAM education in the medical curriculum, specifically how it will positively influence professional attitude and stimulate the doctor–patient relationship.Key words: Medical, Students, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Biotechnologies and bioinspired materials for the construction industry : an overview

Published online: 16 Oct 2013Looking back to less than three centuries of industrialization, responsible for alarming levels of pollution and consumption of non-renewable resources that has led to the exhaustion of the earth’s capacity, the humankind only now begins to grasp the overwhelming potential of natural systems. During almost 40 million centuries, Nature has developed materials and processes with optimal performance which are totally biodegradable. Analysis of bioinspired materials requires the knowledge of both biological and engineering principles which are being a part of a large research area termed biotechnology. This hot area is one of the six strategic Key Enabling Technologies that will be funded under the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020. This paper reviews the current knowledge on the potential of this emerging field, particularly in the development of materials and technologies for the construction industry. It covers the use of bacteria for enhancing concrete durability and for soil stabilization. It also covers bioinspired tough composite materials, bioinspired adhesives and coatings, and self-cleaning materials. Incorporation of biology basics in the civil engineering curriculum would ease the communication between biologists and civil engineers, helping to foster research on biotechnologies and bioinspired materials for the construction industry

Factors related with the university degree selection in Spanish public university system. An structural equation model analysis

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11135-014-0008-9Students take into account different factors in their choice of university studies and college. Some are global, as the quality of the degree (ratio available places/firstchoice places in, cut-off grade, etc.), and others are subjective factors (e.g.: my friends are also taking this degree). In this work we present a partial multivariate model that takes into account the weight of the different variables shown by different works linked to this decision. We have studied three samples (n = 372 from the Universidad Pablo de Olavide; n = 2,244 from the Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, and n = 543 from the Universitat de Barcelona) from several degrees in the 2010 2011 and 2011 2012 academic years, all of them new students, coming from high school, and who had choosen these universities as first choice. The global effect shows that the structural model fits reasonably well in the three universities studied. Similarly, university and specialty models show different intensity effects, and we found that, in the case of Universitat Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) and Universitat de Barcelona (UB), they show higher intensity than in Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO). This makes us think that in most urban universities with a clear and regular offer of degrees (engineering in the case of UPV, and Health and Social Sciences in the case of UB), personal and social factors are more important than in the case of universities, as is the case of UPO, with an offer and dimension not yet completely defined.Guàrdia Olmos, J.; Peró Cebollero, M.; Hervás Jorge, A.; Capilla Lladró, R.; Soriano Jiménez, PP.; Porras Yañez, M. (2014). Factors related with the university degree selection in Spanish public university system. An structural equation model analysis. Quality and Quantity. 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A novel Fontan Y-graft for interrupted inferior vena cava and azygos continuation

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the hemodynamicdynamic advantage of a new Fontan surgical template that is intended for complex single-ventricle patients with interrupted inferior vena cava-azygos and hemi-azygos continuation. The new technique has emerged from a comprehensive pre-surgical simulation campaign conducted to facilitate a balanced hepatic flow and somatic Fontan pathway growth after Kawashima procedure. METHODS For 9 patients, aged 2 to18 years, majority having poor preoperative oxygen saturation, a pre-surgical computational fluid dynamics customization is conducted. Both the traditional Fontan pathways and the proposed novel Y-graft templates are considered. Numerical model was validated against in vivo phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging data and in vitro experiments. RESULTS The proposed template is selected and executed for 6 out of the 9 patients based on its predicted superior hemodynamic performance. Pre-surgical simulations performed for this cohort indicated that flow from the hepatic veins (HEP) do not reach to the desired lung. The novel Y-graft template, customized via a right- or left-sided displacement of the total cavopulmonary connection anastomosis location resulted a drastic increase in HEP flow to the desired lung. Orientation of HEP to azygos direct shunt is found to be important as it can alter the flow pattern from 38% in the caudally located direct shunt to 3% in the cranial configuration with significantly reversed flow. The postoperative measurements prove that oxygen saturation increased significantly (P-value = 0.00009) to normal levels in 1 year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The new Y-graft template, if customized for the individual patient, is a viable alternative to the traditional surgical pathways. This template addresses the competing hemodynamic design factors of low physiological venous pressure, high postoperative oxygen saturation, low energy loss and balanced hepatic growth factor distribution possibly assuring adequate lung development. Date and number of IRB approval 25 October 2019, 280011928-604.01.01