Impact of dietary changes on hepatic homocysteine metabolism in young broilers

Information regarding the impact of sulfur amino acids (SAA) on hepatic homocysteine (Hcy) flux through the various metabolic pathways competing for Hcy in young broilers is lacking. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of varying levels of dietary methionine (Met), choline, and betaine on hepatic Hcy flux in young broiler chickens. A standard starter basal diet was fed to chicks until 8 d of age; 12 experimental diets were given from 8-22 d. The experimental basal diet contained deficient levels of Met and cysteine (Cys); supplemental Met (0, 0.08, 0.16, and 0.24%) was added to the basal diet in combination with isomethyl levels of choline (0 or 0.25%) or betaine (0 or 0.28%). The 12 dietary treatments were replicated with three pens containing five chicks each (15 birds per treatment). Weight gain and feed efficiency increased (P \u3c 0.05) with Met addition and were maximized with the addition of 0.16% digestible Met. No significant interactions (P \u3e 0.05) with choline or betaine addition were noted for weight gain, feed intake, or feed efficiency, but numerical improvements for these variables were observed with the addition of choline and betaine to the Met-deficient basal diet. Analysis of liver tissue indicated that folate-dependent remethylation of Hcy predominated over betaine-dependent remethylation. Further, folate-dependent remethylation of Hcy appeared to be impacted by dietary choline and betaine levels, whereas betaine-dependent remethylation appeared to be more impacted by dietary SAA levels

Sulfur amino acid requirements of broilers from two to five weeks of age

Phase-feeding (PF) in broiler chickens has been researched as a way to reduce feed costs without reducing growth performance and yield. Predicted amino acid requirements for PF are generated using linear regression equations derived from best estimates of lysine (Lys), sulfur amino acid (SAA), and threonine (Thr) requirements. During the late starter and early grower periods, predicted requirements for the SAA methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys) are higher than levels recommended by the National Research Council (NRC), and previous research suggests that SAA may be lowered during the grower period without sacrificing growth performance or yield. The objective of this study was to estimate Met and Cys requirements for broilers from 2 to 5 weeks of age. In Experiment 1, a Met-deficient corn-peanut meal diet was formulated to contain excess Cys, so that supplemental Met was not utilized for Cys synthesis. The basal diet for Experiment 2 met the Met requirement but was deficient in Cys. Graded levels of Met (0, 0.045, 0.09, 0.135, and 0.225%) and Cys (0, 0.035, 0.070, 0.105, 0.140, 0.175%) were added in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, and diets were fed to five replicates of five broilers per pen. Broken-line analysis was used to estimate SAA requirements. The digestible Met and Cys requirements from 2 to 5 weeks of age were 0.33% and 0.31%, respectively. Requirement estimates were lower than those predicted by PF or recommended by NRC, indicating that lower SAA levels may be utilized in a PF progra

Growth and Performance of Broiler Chicks During the Starter and Grower Phases in Phase-Feeding

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a nutrition program referred to as “phase-feeding” (PF) over the first 6 weeks posthatching. Diets were formulated using amino acid recommendations from the National Research Council (NRC) (1994) or from linear regression equations generated from best estimates of lysine (Lys), sulfur amino acid (SAA), and threonine (Thr) requirements. Regression equations were used to predict weekly Lys, SAA, and Thr requirements for use in a PF regimen that involved lowering amino acid levels following each respective week of the experiment, resulting in six diets fed over the 6-week period. Over the entire experiment (0 to 6 weeks), birds fed a PF regimen throughout had an increased (P \u3c 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, and weight gain per unit of digestible Thr intake relative to birds fed NRC requirements throughout. No differences (P \u3c 0.05) in carcass yield or abdominal fat percentage were noted. These data suggest that PF during the first 6 weeks of age can support growth and carcass yield comparable to diets formulated using NRC requirements. Dietary cost analysis indicates that substantial economic benefits may result from the use of PF during the starter and grower periods

Measuring the Effectiveness of Photoresponsive Nanocomposite Coatings on Aircraft Windshields to Mitigate Laser Intensity

In 2004, pilots reported 46 laser illumination events to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with the number increasing to approximately 3,600 in 2011. Since that time, the number of reported laser incidents has ranged from 3,500 to 4,000. Previous studies indicate the potential for flight crewmember distraction from bright laser light being introduced to the cockpit. Compositional variations of the photoresponsive nanocomposite coatings were applied to an aircraft windscreen using a modified liquid dispersion/heating curing process. The attenuating effects of the deposited films on laser light intensity were evaluated using an optical power meter and the resultant laser intensity data through treated and untreated windscreens was collected. Data revealed a reduction in laser intensity (36–88%) in the presence of the engineered photoresponsive nanocomposite films. Results lend support of the view that the addition of transparent laser attenuating films applied to aircraft windscreens may improve flight safety, and reduce the risk from distraction or disruption of flight crewmembers’ vision

Integration of Architectural and Cytologic Driven Image Algorithms for Prostate Adenocarcinoma Identification

Introduction: The advent of digital slides offers new opportunities within the practice of pathology such as the use of image analysis techniques to facilitate computer aided diagnosis (CAD) solutions. Use of CAD holds promise to enable new levels of decision support and allow for additional layers of quality assurance and consistency in rendered diagnoses. However, the development and testing of prostate cancer CAD solutions requires a ground truth map of the cancer to enable the generation of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. This requires a pathologist to annotate, or paint, each of the malignant glands in prostate cancer with an image editor software - a time consuming and exhaustive process

Integration of Architectural and Cytologic Driven Image Algorithms for Prostate Adenocarcinoma Identification

Introduction:: The advent of digital slides offers new opportunities within the practice of pathology such as the use of image analysis techniques to facilitate computer aided diagnosis (CAD) solutions. Use of CAD holds promise to enable new levels of decision support and allow for additional layers of quality assurance and consistency in rendered diagnoses. However, the development and testing of prostate cancer CAD solutions requires a ground truth map of the cancer to enable the generation of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. This requires a pathologist to annotate, or paint, each of the malignant glands in prostate cancer with an image editor software - a time consuming and exhaustive process. Recently, two CAD algorithms have been described: probabilistic pairwise Markov models (PPMM) and spatially-invariant vector quantization (SIVQ). Briefly, SIVQ operates as a highly sensitive and specific pattern matching algorithm, making it optimal for the identification of any epithelial morphology, whereas PPMM operates as a highly sensitive detector of malignant perturbations in glandular lumenal architecture. Methods:: By recapitulating algorithmically how a pathologist reviews prostate tissue sections, we created an algorithmic cascade of PPMM and SIVQ algorithms as previously described by Doyle el al. [1] where PPMM identifies the glands with abnormal lumenal architecture, and this area is then screened by SIVQ to identify the epithelium. Results:: The performance of this algorithm cascade was assessed qualitatively (with the use of heatmaps) and quantitatively (with the use of ROC curves) and demonstrates greater performance in the identification of malignant prostatic epithelium. Conclusion:: This ability to semi-autonomously paint nearly all the malignant epithelium of prostate cancer has immediate applications to future prostate cancer CAD development as a validated ground truth generator. In addition, such an approach has potential applications as a pre-screening/quality assurance tool

Transcriptomic Analysis of Tail Regeneration in the Lizard <i>Anolis carolinensis</i> Reveals Activation of Conserved Vertebrate Developmental and Repair Mechanisms

<div><p>Lizards, which are amniote vertebrates like humans, are able to lose and regenerate a functional tail. Understanding the molecular basis of this process would advance regenerative approaches in amniotes, including humans. We have carried out the first transcriptomic analysis of tail regeneration in a lizard, the green anole <i>Anolis carolinensis</i>, which revealed 326 differentially expressed genes activating multiple developmental and repair mechanisms. Specifically, genes involved in wound response, hormonal regulation, musculoskeletal development, and the Wnt and MAPK/FGF pathways were differentially expressed along the regenerating tail axis. Furthermore, we identified 2 microRNA precursor families, 22 unclassified non-coding RNAs, and 3 novel protein-coding genes significantly enriched in the regenerating tail. However, high levels of progenitor/stem cell markers were not observed in any region of the regenerating tail. Furthermore, we observed multiple tissue-type specific clusters of proliferating cells along the regenerating tail, not localized to the tail tip. These findings predict a different mechanism of regeneration in the lizard than the blastema model described in the salamander and the zebrafish, which are anamniote vertebrates. Thus, lizard tail regrowth involves the activation of conserved developmental and wound response pathways, which are potential targets for regenerative medical therapies.</p></div

Novel and uncharacterized transcripts in the regenerating tail.

<p>Novel and uncharacterized transcripts in the regenerating tail.</p