Average CP Research Articles

Intake, digestibility, and nitrogen retention by sheep supplemented with warm-season legume haylages or soybean meal

The high cost of commercial supplements necessitates evaluation of alternatives for ruminant livestock fed poor quality warm-season grasses. This study determined how supplementing bahiagrass haylage (Paspalum notatum Flügge cv. Tifton 9) with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] meal or warm-season legume haylages affected the performance of lambs. Forty-two Dorper x Katadhin lambs (27.5 +/- 5 kg) were fed for ad libitum intake of bahiagrass haylage (67.8% NDF, 9.6% CP) alone (control) or supplemented with soybean meal (18.8% NDF, 51.4% CP) or haylages of annual peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.) cv. Florida MDR98; 39.6% NDF, 18.7% CP], cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. Iron clay; 44.1% NDF, 16.0% CP], perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth. cv. Florigraze; 40.0% NDF, 15.8% CP), or pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. cv. GA-2; 65.0% NDF, 13.7% CP]. Haylages were harvested at the optimal maturity for maximizing yield and nutritive value, wilted to 45% DM, baled, wrapped in polyethylene plastic, and ensiled for 180 d. Legumes were fed at 50% of the dietary DM, and soybean meal was fed at 8% of the dietary DM to match the average CP concentration (12.8%) of legume haylage-supplemented diets. Lambs were fed each diet for a 14-d adaptation period and a 7-d data collection period. Each diet was fed to 7 lambs in period 1 and 4 lambs in period 2. Pigeonpea haylage supplementation decreased (P < 0.01) DM and OM intake and digestibility vs. controls. Other legume haylages increased (P < 0.05) DM and OM intake vs. controls; however, only soybean meal supplementation increased (P = 0.01) DM digestibility. All supplements decreased (P = 0.05) NDF digestibility. Except for pigeonpea haylage, all supplements increased (P < 0.01) N intake, digestibility, and retention, and the responses were greatest (P = 0.04) with soybean meal supplementation. Microbial N synthesis was reduced (P = 0.02) by pigeonpea haylage supplementation, but unaffected (P = 0.05) by other supplements. Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was unaffected (P = 0.05) by diet. Ruminal ammonia concentration was increased (P = 0.01) by all supplements, but only soybean meal and annual peanut haylage increased (P < 0.03) plasma urea-N concentrations. Perennial peanut, annual peanut, and cowpea haylages are promising protein supplements for growing lambs.

Low activity of the classical complement pathway predicts short survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The activities of the classical (CP) and alternative (AP) complement pathways as well as the levels of some complement components and circulating immune complexes were measured in 43 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) between 1980 and 1984. Depressed CP activities were frequently found in these patients. Clinical course of the disease in the patients was followed until 1992, and compared with the initial complement values. During the follow-up period 36 patients died, death of 33 patients being related to the underlying disease. A strong positive correlation (P < 0.01) was found between the length of survival of the patients and the initial CP values. Patients were divided into two groups: group A, short-term survivors, i.e patients who died in CLL-related complications within 3 years after the complement measurements; and group B, long-term survivors who died > or = 4 years after the complement measurements due to any cause, or were alive at the end of the follow-up period. Average CP values in Group B were almost twice those in group A (P = 0.002), and a similar but less pronounced difference was found in C3 levels (P = 0.055). These differences were even more marked (P = 0.0006 and P = 0.0015, respectively) when only patients in Rai stage 2 and 3 were considered. Low classical pathway activities predicted short survival time: according to the logrank test, patients in Rai stage 2-3 with low (< mean - 2s.d. of the normal values), and normal CP levels survived for 2.0 +/- 1.1, and 4.6 +/- 3.0 years, respectively. All the nine and 11/13 patients with low CP and C4 levels, respectively, died within 3 years after the complement measurements were made. These findings indicate that complement measurements performed in CLL patients have a clinical value.

Composição bromatológica e fracionamento de carboidratos e proteínas de aveia-preta e triticale sob corte e pastejo

Avaliaram-se a composição bromatológica e as frações de carboidratos e proteínas de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb) cv. EMBRAPA 29 e triticale (X triticosecale Wittmack) cv. IAC 3 semeados em abril, maio e junho e colhidos nos sistemas corte e pastejo a intervalos de 30 dias nas condições do norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro. O experimento constou de um fatorial 2 × 2 × 3, arranjado em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, composto dos fatores: gramínea, sistema e época de plantio. Os teores de matéria seca (MS) diferiram entre espécies e sistemas e foi superior no triticale e no sistema pastejo, porém, não diferiram dentro de cada espécie nas diferentes épocas de plantio. Houve efeito significativo dos fatores e/ou de suas interações sobre os teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), FDN livre de cinzas e proteína (FDNcp) e lignina; o teor de FDN foi maior no triticale semeado em abril. Os teores médios de carboidratos totais (%CT na MS) não diferiram entre as espécies e os sistemas, porém, foram maiores em abril, exceto para o triticale no sistema de pastejo; o teor médio geral foi de 77,83% da MS. Do total de carboidratos na MS, 25,5% no triticale e 19,20% na aveia-preta foram compostos de carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF). A fração B2 variou apenas entre as épocas, de 45,32 a 49,13%, respectivamente, para as épocas de plantio em abril e junho no triticale sob o sistema de corte. A fração das proteínas solúveis em detergente neutro (fração A+B1+B2) diferiu apenas entre os teores médios de carboidratos totais (%CT na MS). Considerando o valor médio de PB obtido e sua disponibilidade no triticale e na aveia-preta, pode-se indicar essas forrageiras como excelentes fontes de proteína.

Livestock Management During Drought in the Northern Great Plains. II. Evaluation of Alternative Strategies for Cow-Calf Enterprises

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2> The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative drought management strategies for their effects on beef cowcalf enterprise profitability based on early detection of drought. A bioeconomic model was parameterized to represent a range-based cow-calf production system in the Northern Great Plains. The base management system was characterized by inputs required to maintain herd size of approximately 511 cows during an average climatic year with a fixed forage base. Treatments were factorially arranged where management (early vs. normal), intensity of drought (moderate, 20% reduction in available forage vs. severe, 40% reduction in available forage), and forage quality [average CP (%), ME (Mcal/kg), and NDF (%) vs. drought-affected values] were evaluated for effects on system performance. Early management (EM) included detecting drought by July 15 and weaning calves at 90 d. Normal management (NM) responded to drought by providing nutritional supplements as needed to maintain animal performance. A second bioeconomic computer model was used to simulate drylot performance for early-weaned calves. Treatments were evaluated based on their effects on ranch gross margins (RGM; gross revenue – variable costs). For EM, RGM was calculated with and without the drylot component. During drought, RGM was reduced compared with the base system: EM at 26 and 57% and NM at 33 and 72% for moderate and severe drought, respectively. For all levels of drought and forage quality, EM had equal or higher RGM than NM. Directly feeding EM calves was generally more efficient than feeding NM cows to produce milk to maintain calf performance.

Chemical composition and net energy content of alpine pasture species during the grazing season

The aim of this study was to investigate changes over time in chemical composition, digestibility and net energy for lactation (NEl) contents of 12 species of alpine pastures during the vegetative season ( i.e., Agrostis tenuis, Anthoxanthum alpinum, Carex sempervirens, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Phleum alpinum, Poa alpina, Poa violacea, Alchemilla vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Potentilla aurea, Trifolium repens). Wild seeds were collected from plants spontaneously occurring in mountain pastures in North-East Italy and sown in a greenhouse. Plants were transplanted in open main field plots. Each main plot was divided into sub-plots, which were cut (first cut) in succession every 10 days in two consecutive years. Herbage regrowth (second cut) was evaluated at 45, 60 and 75 days after first cut. Herbage samples were analysed for chemical composition, for in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD), and the NEl content was estimated. During the pasture utilisation period ( i.e., thermic sum between 500 and 1200 °C) the species had limited variation in their average CP contents (81–109 g/kg DM) excluding the lowest values of F. rubra and P. violacea (74 and 71 g/kg DM, respectively; P<0.05) and the highest value of T. repens (202 g/kg DM; P<0.05). Within grasses, there were very fibrous species (>700 g NDF/kg DM, such as F. rubra, N. stricta and P. violacea) and species with medium contents (573–664 g NDF/kg DM), while forbs and the legume specie had a low content (≤403 g NDF/kg DM). The OMD ranged from P. violacea (256 g/kg DM; P<0.05) to T. repens (730 g/kg DM; P<0.05). The highest NEl content was for T. repens (6.3 MJ/kg DM; P<0.05), while low NEl values were calculated for N. stricta and C. sempervirens (2.9 and 2.5 MJ/kg DM, respectively). The lowest (P<0.05) NEl content was estimated for P. violacea (1.9 MJ/kg DM). Most species investigated (in particular, Agrostis tenuis, F. rubra, L. hispidus, Potentilla aurea), had an initial intense decrease in the CP content with advancing season, reaching minimum levels at the thermic sum of 800–1000 °C. During season advancement, all species had increased NDF content, with marked increments for F. rubra and Poa species, and all species had decreased NEl contents. Regrowth samples collected at 75 days after first cut had lower CP and NEl contents relative to those collected after 45 days from the first cut (140 g/kg versus 160 g/kg DM and 4.4 MJ/kg versus 4.8 MJ/kg DM, respectively; P<0.05). This study provides nutritional information on individual herbage species of alpine pastures at different vegetative phases which can be used to obtain average nutritional values of use in pasture management work.

Modeling of Threonine Requirement in Fast-Growing Chickens, Depending on Age, Sex, Protein Deposition, and Dietary Threonine Efficiency

In addition to dose-response studies, modeling of N utilization, depending on intake of the first limiting amino acid in the diet, is one of the tools for assessing amino acid requirements in growing animals. Based on a verified nonlinear N-utilization model and following the principles of the diet dilution technique, N-balance experiments were conducted to estimate the Thr requirement of fast-growing chickens (genotype Cobb), depending on age, sex, CP deposition. and efficiency of dietary Thr utilization. Different predictions were made for the feed intake to conclude the optimal Thr concentration in the feed. The results are based on N-balance experiments with a total of 144 male and 144 female growing chickens within 4 age periods (I: 10 to 25 d; II: 30 to 45 d; III: 50 to 65 d; IV: 70 to 85 d), using diets with graded protein supply (6.6, 13, 19.6, 25.1, 31.8, and 37.6% CP in DM) from high-protein soybean meal with a constant amino acid ratio and Thr as the first limiting amino acid (3.87 g of Thr/100 g of CP; dietary Lys:Thr = 1:0.54). The observed optimal Thr concentration (% of feed) was influenced by age, sex, level of CP deposition, dietary efficiency of Thr utilization, and predicted feed intake. For male chickens, assuming an average CP deposition (60% of the potential) and average efficiency of Thr utilization, 0.78% (10 to 25 d), 0.73% (30 to 45 d), 0.65% (50 to 65 d), and 0.55% (70 to 85 d) total dietary Thr were observed as optimal total Thr concentration in the diet (corresponding to 60, 135, 160, and 180 g of daily feed intake, respectively). Data are discussed in context with the main factors of influence like age, sex, level of daily CP deposition, efficiency of dietary Thr utilization, and predicted feed intake.

The measurement of whole blood pre-treatment cyclosporine A: metabolite ratios predicts the onset of renal dysfunction in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation

In the context of post-transplant immunosuppression, cyclosporine A (CSA) is dose adjusted in accordance with whole blood drug monitoring. While currently available immunoassay systems primarily target the parent drug, cross-reactivity results in the detection of the major circulating CSA metabolites, though their contribution to both immunosuppression and toxicity remain unclear. This study examines the relationship of CSA metabolites to hepatic and renal dysfunction and the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) through parallel assaying of parent drug and drug/metabolites expressed as a metabolite ratio (Cp:mR). Sequential pre-treatment (trough) whole blood samples (n=527) were collected from 31 allo-stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients. Both parent drug and drug/metabolite levels were determined using the Abbott fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The average mean Cp:mR was significantly higher in patients with hepatic (P=0.004) and renal dysfunction (P=0.004) than in those without. Significantly higher Cp:mR were also found in patients with grades II-IV GvHD (P=0.001) than were observed in patients who did not experience significant GvHD. When measured prospectively, an increasing Cp:mR predated the rise in serum creatinine concentration by a median of two weeks. This study demonstrates a clinically useful CSA metabolite ratio that shows association with hepatic and renal dysfunction and with GvHD. The measure can be used to predict those patients on CSA therapy who are likely to develop renal dysfunction.

Effect of Arginine:Lysine Ratios and Source of Methionine on Growth and Body Protein Accretion in Acutely and Chronically Heat-Stressed Broilers

The effect of Arg:Lys, Met source, and time of exposure to heat stress on growth and body protein accretion was tested in acutely heat-stressed (AHS) or chronically heat-stressed (CHS) broilers. Ross 308 1-day-old chickens were raised under normal brooding conditions from 1 to 25 d of age and were then suddenly moved to 32°C (AHS), whereas another group was kept at constant high temperatures throughout the grow-out period (32°C; CHS). From 26 to 33 d of age, both groups were therefore at 32.8 ± 1.0°C. Two rooms were used per environmental treatment. A basal diet deficient in TSAA was supplemented with L-Arg monohydrochloride to achieve Arg:Lys ratios of 0.95 and 1.40. Diets were supplemented with either l-Met, 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMB), or dl-Met (DLM) to a level of TSAA 5% lower than requirements. Each Arg:Lys and Met source combination was diluted with a N-free diet to achieve graded levels of CP (0.0, 3.5, 7.0, 10.5, 14.0, and 17.5% CP) and fed to 18 replicates of 3 chickens (3 replicates per level). Treatment effects were obtained by the slope-ratio technique using average daily BW gain and body CP deposition as dependent variables and protein intake as the independent variable. Protein utilization remained unaffected by Met source when fed at high Arg:Lys for birds under AHS and CHS (P > 0.05). However, lower protein utilization was observed in birds fed l-Met in low Arg:Lys compared with those fed DLM (P < 0.05). Birds fed HMB at low Arg:Lys utilized dietary protein better than those fed L-Met only under CHS conditions (P < 0.05). Protein utilization for birds fed HMB was similar to that of birds fed DLM in all instances. It was concluded that Arg:Lys, Met source, and time of exposure to heat stress affected protein utilization in hyperthermic birds.

Rendimento forrageiro e composição bromatológica de variedades de milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.)

O experimento foi realizado para avaliar a produtividade, o perfilhamento, a porcentagem de lâmina/haste e a composição bromatológica (PB, FDN e FDA) de três variedades (Africano, Americano e BN-2) de milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.) em três idades de corte (35, 42 e 49 dias). Na primeira fase da pesquisa, foi utilizado delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, em um esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições. Na fase de rebrota, o delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com o mesmo número de repetições. As parcelas principais foram representadas pelas variedades e as subparcelas, pelas três idades de corte. A produção média de MS durante a fase de corte foi similar entre as variedades (4.360, 4.204 e 3.247 kg/MS/ha para as variedades Africano, Americano e BN-2, respectivamente), ao passo que os teores de PB, FDN e FDA e a relação lâmina/haste diferiram (Americano: 16,71% PB; 56,29% FDN e 30,04% FDA; BN-2: 16,30% PB; 55,93% FDN e 30,98% FDA; Africano: 15,36% PB; 60,55% FDN e 34,55% FDA). Com o avançar da idade de corte, a produtividade e os teores de FDN e FDA aumentaram, enquanto a relação lâmina/haste e o teor de PB decresceram linearmente. Na rebrota, a produtividade diminuiu, mas os teores médios de PB, FDN e FDA não diferiram entre as variedades (Americano: 20,21% PB; 53,19% FDN e 26,72% FDA; BN-2: 20,43% PB; 53,42% FDN e 27,06% FDA; Africano: 19,75% PB; 52,45% FDN e 27,44% FDA), observando-se diferença para a relação média lâmina/haste. O valor nutritivo da forragem na rebrota manteve-se acima dos encontrados na primeira fase de corte. As maiores porcentagens de lâminas foram observadas nas variedades Americano e BN-2 e as maiores de hastes, na variedade AFRICANO. As melhores variedades para uso na alimentação animal são: Americano e BN-2 e a melhor idade de corte é de 49 dias.

Phase I/II clinical and pharmacokinetic trial of heptaplatin and 5-FU combination treatment in advanced head and neck cancer

5550 Background: Heptaplatin (SKI-2053R, Sunpla) is a platinum compound, which has shown equivalent anti-tumor activity and less toxicity compared to cisplatin and was approved for advanced gastric cancers in Korea. We conducted phase I/II clinical trial of heptaplatin and 5-FU combination treatment in head & neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In phase I study, maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicity (DLT) as well as pharmacokinetics (PK) of heptaplatin and 5-FU were investigated. Methods: Fourteen patients with metastatic or recurrent HNSCC were enrolled. Heptaplatin was administered as 24 hr continuous infusion followed by continuous infusion of 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2/d) for 5 days. The dose of heptaplatin was escalated by 50 mg/m2 from 500 mg/m2 according to modified Fabonacchi method. Peripheral blood was collected until 96hr post-treatment and the conc. of heptaplatin in total plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate and RBC fraction were determined using FAAS. Steady-state plasma conc. (CP, ss) of 5-FU was determined using HPLC-UV. Results: Dose of 5-FU was reduced to 750 mg/m2/d due to severe toxicities and MTD of heptaplatin was 600 mg/m2. The average AUC (last), CL (inf), and Vz.(terminal) of heptaplatin was 208.32 ng.hr/ml, 1.52 ml/hr, and 183.16 ml, respectively. Cmax was observed at the end of infusion and was 4.25 ng/ml, 1.92 ng/ml, 1.11 ng/ml in total plasma, plasma filtrate, and RBC, respectively. No differences of heptaplatin conc. were found in different dose levels of heptaplatin. Seven-fold difference in the average Cp,ss of 5-FU was observed among the fourteen patients, indicating great inter-patient variation in PK of 5-FU. There were no significant changes of average Cp,ss of 5-FU, even though the dose of 5-FU was reduced from 1,000 mg/m2/d to 750 mg/m2/d. Conclusions: The average Cp,ss of 5-FU was significantly increased with dose escalation of heptaplatin from 500 mg/m2 to 600 mg/m2, i.e., Cp,ss 240 ng/ml to 500 ng/ml, suggesting pharmacokinetics interaction between 5-FU and heptaplatin. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The effect of two different blends of essential oil components on the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens in the intestines of broiler chickens

The effect of 2 different blends of essential oils on Clostridium perfringens (Cp) in the intestine and feces of broiler chickens was tested in 6 field trials for each blend. One hundred parts per million of the blends were mixed in a commercial corn-based diet throughout the entire growing period for experimental flocks. Samples from the jejunum, cecum, cloaca, and feces were taken on d 14, 21, and 30 from experimental and control flocks and tested quantitatively for Cp via blood agar plate, litmus milk medium, and ELISA. Blend A reduced (P ≤ 0.05) the average Cp concentration in the feces on all sampling days, in the jejunum and cecum on d 14 and 21, and in the cloaca on d 14. Blend B effected a significant reduction of Cp concentration in the jejunum on d 14 and 30 and in the cloaca on d 14. The percentages of specimens from the control group that tested positive for Cp were 83.3% for feces, 88.0% for jejunum and cloaca, and 82.6% for cecum. Specimens from the feces and 3 sections of the intestine were Cp positive in groups treated with blend A (60.8, 64.6, 47.9, and 70.8%) and with blend B (65.9, 63.6, 63.6, and 72.7%). Our results indicate that specific blends of essential oil components can control Cp colonization and proliferation in the gut of broilers and therefore may be of help to prevent problems with Cp and necrotic enteritis.

Utilization of Energy and Protein in Local Indian Crossbred Gilts Fed Diets Containing Different Levels of Rice Bran

Fifty four crossbred gilts of 26.38±0.85 kg body weight and 25 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups, having six replicates of three animals each and were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments containing corn, wheat bran and rice bran (RB) at 35, 47 and 0% in R 1; 17.5, 23.5 and 41% in R2 and 0, 0 and 82% in R 3. Soybean meal and fishmeal were used as source of protein at 10 and 6%, respectively, in all the rations. Average daily CP, DCP, DE and ME intake per kg W 0.75 and body weight gains were lowest (p 0.05) between the treatment groups. All the gilts were in positive nitrogen balance. However, the excretion of dietary nitrogen and energy through faeces was higher (p<0.01) in gilts fed RB. However, the DE and ME conversion efficiency were higher (p<0.01) in gilts fed RB. Therefore, it can be concluded that the digestibility of energy and protein in diets containing rice bran goes on decreasing with the increasing level of fat and fibre, but the metabolizability of the energy and protein was better in pigs fed RB in the diet. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 5 : 688-692)

Two-body charmlessBdecays involvingηandη′

We discuss the implications of recent experimental data for B decays into two pseudoscalar mesons, with an emphasis on those with $\ensuremath{\eta}$ and ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ in the final states. Applying a U-spin argument, we show that tree and penguin amplitudes, both in ${B}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}\ensuremath{\eta}$ and in ${B}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}},$ are of comparable magnitudes. Nontrivial relative weak and strong phases between the tree-level amplitudes and penguin-loop amplitudes in the ${B}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\eta}$ modes are extracted. We predict the possible values for the averaged branching ratio and CP asymmetry of the ${B}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ modes. We test the assumption of a singlet-penguin amplitude with the same weak and strong phases as the QCD penguin amplitude in explaining the large branching ratios of ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}K$ modes, and show that it is consistent with current branching ratio and CP asymmetry data of the ${B}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0},\ensuremath{\eta},{\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}{)K}^{+}$ modes. We also show that the strong phases of the singlet-penguin and tree-level amplitudes can be extracted with further input of electroweak penguin contributions and a sufficiently well-known branching ratio of the $\ensuremath{\eta}{K}^{+}$ mode. Using $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ flavor symmetry, we also estimate required data samples to detect modes that have not yet been seen.

The Use of High-oil Corn in Young Broiler Chicken Diets

The objective of this study was to measure performance of young broiler chickens fed three varieties of high-oil corn (HOC 1, 2, and 3) compared with eight varieties of normal corn (NC). HOC varieties contained about 80% more oil than NC (average crude fat; 6.71% vs 3.72%) and about 29% more protein (average CP; 9.54% vs 7.38%). Each experimental diet was formulated with the same amount (55.205%) of each corn hybrid. Experiment 1 had by six dietary treatments (HOC1 and five NC varieties, 360 chickens) and Experiment 2 had five treatments (HOC2, HOC3, and three NC varieties, 250 chickens). In Exp. 1, for feed efficiency (F/G), the treatment contained HOC1 had better performance (p 0.05) among dietary treatments. The dietary treatment of HOC1 gave an improvement of 4.3% in F/G that came from 6% higher gross energy (GE) value of HOC1. Compared with Exp. 2, the dietary treatments contained HOC hybrids gave 4.4% higher F/G than NC dietary treatments, which came from a 5% increase in GE value. HOC varieties had superior nutrients content to NC for poultry, due to the fact that HOC contained higher concentrations of energy, protein, lysine, and methionine, thus improving growth and F/G. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 6 : 880-883)

Feeding Value of Sugarcane Stalk for Cattle

A metabolism trial with four castrated male Brahman cattle, average body weight 320 kg, was conducted in order to determine the nutritive value of chopped sugarcane stalk (CSS) for the establishment of feeding strategy in the dry season in Northeast Thailand. Animals were subjected to the following four dietary treatments: Treatment 1; 100% of CSS, Treatment 2; 70% of CSS and 30% of commercial complete feed (TMR), Treatment 3; 40% of CSS and 60% of TMR, and Treatment 4; 100% of TMR. The average CP, ether extracts, nitrogen free extracts, crude fiber and ash contents of CSS were 2.0, 0.9, 79.0, 16.1 and 2.2%, respectively. Although the amount of feed given was approximately at maintenance level, animals in treatments 1 and 2 refused a part of feed. The metabolism trial revealed that total digestible nutrient and metabolizable energy contents of CSS were 61.5% and 9.04 MJ/kgDM, respectively, when it was properly supplemented with protein sources. Nutritive value of CSS was lowered when animals were given CSS solely. This was due to the large loss of energy into urine and methane. Voluntary intake of CSS in cattle was not enough to satisfy energy requirement for maintenance. The CSS can be used as a roughage for feeding cattle in the dry season with proper supplementation of protein and energy. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 1 : 55-60)

N-(phosphonacetyl)-l-aspartate and calcium leucovorin modulation of fluorouracil administered by constant rate and circadian pattern of infusion over 72 hours in metastatic gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma

We have reported that N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartic acid (PALA) 1266 mg/m2 can safely be given 24 hours prior to the start of a 72-hour infusion of fluorouracil (FUra) and leucovorin (LV) at doses of 2000 and 500 mg/m2/day. Since inhibition of aspartate carbamoyltransferase (ACTase) activity was evident 4 hours post PALA, we wished to evaluate PALA given 1 hour prior to FUra. Further, we studied the toxicity and pharmacokinetics with FUra given by either fixed- or variable-rate infusion. Twenty-seven patients with gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinomas were treated with PALA 1266 mg/m2/15 min followed by a 72-hour infusion of FUra and LV (1750 & 500 mg/m2/day) given by fixed- or variable-rate (peak at 4:00 A.M.). Clinical toxicity was similar in two consecutive cycles in 17 patients receiving fixed- and variable-rate infusion at the same FUra dose. Overall, grade 3 stomatitis and hand-foot syndrome occurred in 12% and 4% patients receiving fixed- and in 16% and 10.5% of patients receiving variable-rate infusions. Six of 24 evaluable patients (25%) had a partial response. The profile of FUra plasma levels (Cp) over a 24-hour period during fixed- and variable-rate infusions were strikingly different, but the average Cp and area under the concentration-time curves were comparable. ACTase activity was significantly decreased at 4 and 24 hours after PALA (12% and 18% of baseline; P < 0.001), but enzyme activity had recovered to 40% by 72 hours. This regimen was active and well tolerated with similar toxicities with FUra given by either fixed- or variable rate infusion. PALA 1266 mg/m2 significantly inhibited ACTase activity for at least 24 hours.

Produção de forrageiras anuais de estação fria no litoral sul do Rio Grande do Sul

Forrageiras anuais de estação fria, Avena strigosa Schreb cv. IAPAR-61 Ibiporã, Lolium multiflorum Lam cv. Comum, Lotus subbiflorus Lag. cv. El Rincón, Avena sativa L. cv. UPF-16, Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Woogenellup, Trifolium resupinatum L. var. resupinatum cv. Kyambro, Secale cereale L. cv. BR-1, Trifolium vesiculosum Savi cv. EMBRAPA-28 Santa Tecla e Vicia angustifolia L. foram avaliadas usando um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com três repetições, no período de 1994 a 1996, na Estação Experimental Terras Baixas da EMBRAPA - Clima Temperado, Pelotas, RS, em Planossolo, unidade de mapeamento Pelotas. A área recebeu preparo convencional e adubação conforme análise do solo. Os cortes foram efetuados a cada 28 dias, sendo o primeiro 60 dias após a emergência. Os rendimentos médios anuais de MS (kg/ha•ano) e os teores médios de PB e FDN foram determinados. Houve efeito da interação entre anos e espécies. Avena strigosa IAPAR-61, L.multiflorum Comum e L.subbiflorus Rincón foram destaque, pelo alto potencial de produção de forragem, assim como pelo crecimento nos períodos outono/inverno, inverno/primavera e primavera, respectivamente. Todas as espécies avaliadas produziram forragem de alto valor nutricional, em termos dos teores de PB e FDN. Vicia angustifolia teve sempre o mais alto teor de PB e a maior produção relativa de inverno. Trifolium subterraneum Woogenellup foi a única espécie que produziu sementes viáveis suficientes para assegurar adequada regeneração natural da planta no início do segundo ano.

Investigation of the flopping regime with two-, three- and four-cylinder arrays

The variation of the base pressure coefficient (Cp), and the characteristics of the velocity power spectra for arrays of two-, three- and four-cylinders aligned normal to the flow are presented. For the two-cylinder array with s/d=0.750 (where s is the spacing between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent cylinders and d is the diameter of the cylinder) and Re=2.5×103, peaks in the power spectra of 145 and 45 Hz which correspond to Strouhal numbers of 0.35 and 0.11 have been observed. For the three-cylinder array with Re=2.5×103, at 0.338?s/d?0.730, three quasi-stable modes are observed. For 0.730?s/d?0.850, flopping and one quasi-stable mode are observed. For 0.850?s/d?1.202, only one mode is observed. The hot-wire power spectra measured downstream of the cylinder array on the center plane between the top and center cylinder and, also on the plane at s/2 above the top cylinder has three relative peaks that correspond to a wake structure, i.e. a pattern of vortices. For the four-cylinder array, when 0.338?s/d?0.750, four quasi-stable modes are observed. First, a mode can be observed in which the average Cp value of the top cylinder is relatively high, the average Cp value of the bottom cylinder is relatively low, and the average Cp values of the two center cylinders are nearly equal. A second mode is sometimes observed that is similar to the first except that the relatively high and low average Cp values of the outer cylinders are interchanged. A third mode is observed in which the average Cp value of the upper–inner cylinder is relatively high, the average Cp value of the lower–inner cylinder is relatively low, and the average Cp values of the outer cylinders are nearly equal. A fourth mode can be observed that is similar to the third mode except that the relative high and low average Cp values of the two inner cylinders are interchanged. For 0.750?s/d?1.202, only two of these modes are observed.

Effect of Dietary Inclusion ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeon Growth Performance of Crossbred Calves

Abstract Panda, A.K., Singh, R. and Pathak, N.N. 1995. Effect of dietary inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance of crossbred calves. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 7: 195–200. Effect of dietary inclusion of yeast cell suspension (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITCCF 2094) on intake, growth performance and nutrient utilisation was evaluated in 12 one day old crossbred calves divided in two groups, control and experimental on the basis of body weight. All the calves were fed whole milk as per schedule up to 9 weeks, while calf starter and green berseem were offered ad libitum from 2nd week onwards till 13 weeks of age. The yeast cell suspension was fed to calves in the experimental group @ 5 x 109 cfu/hd/d. The average daily liveweight gain and CP digestibility were significantly higher (P<0.01) and feed: gain ratio was significantly better (P<0.05) in the yeast fed group. It is concluded that feeding yeast cell suspension improves weight gain and feed efficiency in young calves.

Synthesis and crystal structure of bis(cyclopentadienyl)amido complex of neodymium, [Li(DME) 3][(η 5-C 5H 5) 2Nd(NPh 2) 2

[Li(DME) 3] [(η 5-C 5H 5) 2Nd(NPh 2) 2] ( 1) was synthesized by the reaction of NdCl 3 · 2LiCl · nTHF, 2 equivalents of CpNa (Cp = C 5H 5) and 2 equivalents of LiNPh 2 and recrystallized from DME. Complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structural analysis. The crystal structure of 1 shows it to consists of [Li(DME) 3] + and [(η 5-C 5H 5) 2Nd(NPh 2) 2] − ion pairs. The neodymium atom was coordinated by two η 5-bonded cyclopentadienyls and two σ-bonded diphenylamido ligands in a distorted tetrahedral arrangement, with the average distances NdCp(1) = 2.783(8), NdCp(2) = 2.767(9) (Cp indicates the ring carbons) and NdN = 2.428(7)Å.