Mineral Mix Research Articles

The effect of diets suplemented with different natural foods on growth and feed utilization of snakehead (Channa striata)

A sixty day feeding study was performed to determine the impact of diets enriched with various natural foods on growth and feed utilization of snakehead. Six hundred fingerlings weighing 4.33 to 4.71 g each fish were randomly stocked into 4 triplicate plastic tanks (1x1x1.5 m), fifty fish each tank. Four isoproteic and isoenergetic diets containing 45% crude protein and 18.5 KJ g-1gross energy were formulated. Control diet was formulated using fishmeal, salted trash fish, tofu by-product meal, rice bran, vitamin and mineral mix. The three diets were prepared with the same ingredients as control diet but were supplemented with 15% fresh earth worm (W), golden snail (S) and frog (F), respectively. The diets were fed to the fish at 6% body weight, twice daily for 60 days. Feeding the fish with diet F and S did not influence fish survival rate, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention. However, feeding the fish with diet W increased weight gain and feed intake. It can be concluded that the supplementation of snakehead diet with fresh worm can improve growth performance and feed intake by the fish.

Spontaneous fractures and hypocuprosis in pen-backgrounded Holstein calves

Bone fractures are a frequent cause of limp in cattle, being pre-existing bone lesions among the predisposing factors. However, there is scant information about the natural occurrence of bone disease. This report aimed to describe an outbreak of spontaneous fractures associated with hypocuprosis in pen-backgrounded calves. Hind limp and irreversible recumbency were noticed in 9-month-old calves of a dairy farm from Córdoba province (Argentina). The issue was only evident in males fed a diet composed (DM) of 57% wet corn, 24% dry corn distiller grains, and 19% corn silage. No mineral mix was supplied. Accumulated morbidity and fatality rates were 5.8 and 100%, respectively. Two autopsies were performed, observing multiple femoral and rib fractures. Severe hypocupremia, very low copper levels in the liver and plasma, deficient dietary copper levels, normocalcemia, marginal hypophosphatemia, and high sulfate concentrations in the water supply were determined. Except for the decreased bone quantity and the multiple fractures, no bone lesion was observed, confirming osteoporosis as the pathological diagnosis, and hypocuprosis as the etiology.

Effects of Biuret and Lasalocid (Bovatec) Inclusion into a Commercial Mineral Supplement on Growth Performance of Yearling Calves Grazing in the Kansas Flint Hills

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to measure the effects of non-protein nitrogen (NPN; i.e., biuret) or NPN + ruminal modifier (i.e., biuret + lasalocid) inclusion in a commercial mineral mix on growth performance of yearling beef calves grazing in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Research on the Identification Mechanism of Coal Gangue Based on the Differences of Mineral Components.

For coal and gangue, intelligent sorting processes for separation, the use of coal and gangue mineral components with different fundamental differences, and the study of different properties of minerals and coal with different scales and density regarding the gray value change law are presented. The results show that the gray value of single minerals and mixed minerals gradually decreases with the increase of their thickness and density. The greater the density of minerals, the smaller the gray value at the same thickness, and the same rule applies to different coal ranks. Via regression analysis methods, the values of the regression equation parameter a of pure minerals for graphite, quartz, kaolinite, and montmorillonite are 59.25, 65.69, 61.61, and 58.02 in the high-energy region, respectively. In the low-energy region, they are 174.95, 177.31, 186.95, and 161.81. For the regression equation parameter of mixed minerals in the form of two mixed minerals (graphite and quartz, kaolinite, or montmorillonite) and three kinds of mineral mixing (graphite-kaolinite and quartz; graphite-montmorillonite and quartz; graphite-kaolinite and montmorillonite), the gray values are 151.12, 156.00, 153.13,152.43, 152.98, and 151.98 in the high-energy region, respectively; in the low-energy region, they are 193.34, 201.34, 192.93, 191.26, 194.68, and 193.08. The phenomenon for the gray range of two kinds of single minerals locates in the range of mixed minerals that was formed from a single mineral observed after the regression equation of mixed mineral was verified by a single mineral, which agrees with the X-ray recognition pattern. In the end, as the density of coking coal, fat coal, and gas coal increases, the gray value decreases, which was in agreement with single- and mixed-mineral analyses.

ANALIZA KOSZTÓW PRODUKCJI PASZ I ZYWIENIA BYDŁA RZEŹNEGO NA PRZYKŁADZIE WYBRANEGO GOSPODARSTWA INDYWIDUALNEGO

The paper analyses the costs of production of roughage and nutritive fodder and fattening HF and Limousine crossbreds of feeder cattle. The costs of growing fodder for feeder cattle were calculated per one hectare. The cost of producing one tonne of feed was determined based on the farm’s mean crop yield. The calculation included the cost of maintenance, including the cost of feeding 14 animals over 22 months. The animals were kept untethered in stalls with deep litter from the body weight of 36.86 kg to 812.14 kg on the selling date. The feeder cattle were fed according to the nutritional recommendations, and their feed rations were based on feedstock produced on the farm, except post-extraction meals and the mineral and vitamin mix Dolfos BO. It was demonstrated that the cost of producing one tonne of roughage ranged from PLN 66.98 (maize silage) to PLN 265.98 (hay), while that of grain oscillated from PLN 261.22 (rye) to approximately PLN 371 (oats and wheat). It was found that maize silage generated the highest cost in feeder cattle feeding. This fact should be associated with its largest share in feed rations, which as a result corresponded to nearly 5.5 tonnes per animal. As regards nutritive fodder, the highest cost was generated by nutritive fodder 2, which was also linked to its amount per animal. Throughout the fattening period, each animal consumed more than 10 tonnes of feed and its cost could be estimated at PLN 27,939.53. To sum up, the farm received PLN 1,616.75 of income from breeding one animal.

ECONOMIC VALUATION OF IRRIGATING TOMATO PLANTS WITH AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE WATER REMEDIATED WITH DHS TECHNOLOGY

An economic evaluation of the effect of irrigating tomato plants with agricultural drainage water remediated with DHS technology was conducted in a field experiment at Rahawy, Giza governorate. According to the findings, Egypt's reuse of agricultural drainage water meets around 15% of its irrigation needs, while the overall expenses of remediating one cubic metre of agricultural drainage water using DHS technology reached LE 1.03. The volume of irrigation water used to grow tomato plants decreased by 5% in non-remediated soil ecosystems, 14% in soil ecosystems remediated by microbial inoculation and fortified by bentonite clay mineral, and 22% in soil ecosystems receiving a mix of clay minerals, rock phosphate, and sulphur and inoculated by Thiobacillus sps and phosphate dissolving bacteria PDB. the productivity of one feddan of tomato crop irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water reached 11.31 tons per feddan, irrigation with agricultural drainage water increased tomato crop by about 31%, all studied indicators of the economic efficiency of tomato production grown in remediated soil ecosystem and irrigated with remediated agricultural drainage water were higher than their counterparts grown in non-remediated soil ecosystem and irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water, total tomato yield increased under irrigation with remediated agricultural drainage to LE 31.668, reaching 47% over its counterpart grown in non-remediated soil ecosystem irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water, the net yield per feddan increased by 716% under irrigation with remediated agricultural drainage water over its counterpart irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water. When irrigated with remediated agricultural drainage water, the cost of one tonne of tomato fruits harvested from non-remediated, remediated with bacteria, or remediated with clay minerals soil ecosystems decreased by 11%, 40%, and 44%, respectively, when compared to its counterparts irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water. The profitability of one pound spent on tomato fruits harvested from non-remediated, remediated with bacteria, or remediated with clay minerals soil ecosystems decreased by 598 percent, 1010 percent, and 163 percent more than its counterpart irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water, respectively, under irrigation with remediated agricultural drainage water. The net return of the water unit increased by 761 percent, 1367 percent, and 282 percent in tomato fruits harvested from non-remediated, remediated with certain microorganisms, or remediated with clay minerals soil ecosystems under irrigation with remediated agricultural drainage water, respectively, over its counterpart irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water. The estimated profitability of each pound spent on agricultural drainage water remediation was LE 2.36 for tomato plants growing in an unremediated soil ecosystem, LE 10.07 for those remediated with specific microbes, and LE 33.43 for those remediated with clay minerals. The economic valuation of irrigating tomato plants with agricultural drainage water remediated with DHS technology was good, which will support farmers' social acceptance and sustainability of DHS use.

Implementation of hypocalcaemia prevention programmes in commercial dairy herds: From theory to practice

Hypocalcaemia prevention programmes have been widely studied in experimental settings, but their feasibility has not been assessed under field conditions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate, in the context of small dairy farms in western France, whether and how dairy farmers implement prevention programmes and manage the feeding of dry cows to prevent hypocalcaemia. Seventy-nine commercial Holstein dairy farms in Brittany (France) were enrolled in a qualitative study in 2019. We conducted in-person interviews with the farmers to 1) understand the rationale behind the type and seasonality of prevention programmes they implemented and 2) assess how closely they followed common recommendations when implementing them. Most farmers (80 %) used at least one prevention programme, especially supplying a mineral mix formulated to meet the needs of dry cows in late gestation (53 %), acidifying the diet in late gestation (37 %), and supplying calcium at calving (oral or injectable form, 37 %). The use of programmes depended on whether the diet composition varied throughout the year. Among farmers who provided an acidified diet, 25 % did not supply a specific mineral mix to dry cows to ensure an adequate amount of P, Ca, and Mg, which could decrease the effectiveness of the acidification programme. A lack of reliability in feeding practices, such as not weighing feed or not delivering feed frequently enough, was identified for 61 % of contributing farms. Management practices could result in supplying an unsuitable amount of P, Ca, or Mg immediately before calving; for example, inappropriate batching practices around calving were identified for 22 % (cows) to 32 % (heifers) of farms. In addition, nearly all contributing farmers had no processes in place to monitor the effectiveness of the programmes implemented. Reasons for this overall lack of compliance should be explored.

PSVII-15 Evaluation of the Effects of Hormonal Implants on Efficiency, and Water Footprint of Feedlot Steers

Abstract As freshwater sources continue to deplete, federal policy will likely marginalize water distribution towards agricultural communities more harshly. This ever-limiting resource highlights the significance of proactively improving quantification and water utilization of livestock operations. The goals herein investigated the effects of long-term implants on animal performance and water footprint. Eighteen crossbred F1 Angus x Hereford steers were randomly assigned to implanted (IMP; n = 9) or non-implanted (NIMP; n = 9) groups in two pens equipped with individual feeding gates and four RFID-automated water intake and body weight scales for a period of 135d. Steers were fed the same finishing diet across groups (400 g/kg alfalfa hay, 402 g/kg ground corn, 161 g/kg ground barley, 23.4 g/kg soybean meal, 10.8 g/kg mineral mix, and 2.7 g/kg limestone). Water footprint was classified as green, blue and grey (rainwater, surface/groundwater, and waste/contaminated water, respectively). Statistical analyses were performed on R Statistical Software following a linear mixed model methodology with the implanting treatment as a fixed effect and animal as a random effect to the intercept. Overall, expected increases in feed efficiency and performance were observed on this experiment where implanted animals had greater carcass weights (p < 0.0001), average daily gains (p < 0.0001), and body weights (BW; p = 0.001) all while consuming less feed by unit of BW ( p < 0.0001). With regards to water, the implanted animals consumed less water per kilogram of body weight gain (p < 0.0001). No differences were observed for water footprint evaluations in this experiment (p > 0.5). These results highlight that genetic and metabolic mechanisms regulating feed efficiency on implanted animals may also regulate water efficiency directly or indirectly, and therefore, further warrants the investigation of these pathways in future research.

Negative polarization properties of regolith simulants

Context. Polarization phase curves of asteroids and other small airless bodies are influenced by the compositional and physical properties of their regolith. The mixing of minerals composing the regolith influences the negative polarization at small phase angles because it changes the multiple scattering properties of the medium. Aims. This work aims to demonstrate experimentally how the mixing effect influences the polarization phase curve at small phase angles for different mineralogies relevant for asteroids, and to determine how different aggregate sizes affect the negative polarization. Methods. We prepared a set of binary and ternary mixtures with different common minerals on asteroids and one set of the same mixture with different aggregate sizes. We measured their reflected light at 530 nm with full Stokes polarimetry at phase angles ranging from 0.8° to 30°. Results. The mixing effect of the mixtures with both bright and dark minerals significantly changes the behavior of the phase curves in terms of minimum polarization, phase angle of the minimum, and inversion angle with respect to the mineral components that are mixed together. The changes in phase curve could explain the polarization observation of particular classes of asteroids (F and L class) and other asteroids with peculiar polarization curves or photometric properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the negative polarization is invariant to the presence of dust aggregates up to centimeter sizes.

Volcano-pluton connections at the Lake City magmatic center (Colorado, USA)

Abstract Exposed at the Lake City caldera (Colorado, USA) is the ca. 23 Ma reversely stratified (rhyolite to trachyte) Sunshine Peak Tuff and post-collapse syenite and monzonite resurgent intrusions. Existing models for this system suggest that the rhyolites are related to the trachyte and resurgent syenite through fractional crystallization, separation, and remobilization (crystal mush model), and that multiple magma batches were involved in the system (Hon, 1987; Kennedy et al., 2016; Lubbers et al., 2020). We use U-Pb zircon CA-ID-TIMS-TEA and zircon trace-element modeling to further probe age and geochemical relationships between the extrusive and intrusive units. Zircon ages and compositions from the erupted units and the syenite overlap, suggesting these magmas were related and may have mixed prior to eruption. Results from the monzonite suggest it was a contemporaneous but distinct magma batch that mixed with parts of the larger system. Trends in zircon geochemistry are decoupled from time, reflecting a complex history of accessory mineral saturation and mixing of magma batches, and a distinct high-Hf population of zircon grains hints at the existence of an additional, independent batch of rhyolitic magma in the system. The new ages we present shorten the lifetime of the Lake City magmatic system from 80 to 300 k.y. (Bove et al., 2001) to 60 to 220 k.y. and suggest the high-silica rhyolite magma crystallized over a minimum of ~160 k.y. This latter timescale likely reflects a protracted history that includes differentiation of a parent melt prior to extraction of eruptible high-silica rhyolite magma.

Phobos and Deimos surface composition: search for spectroscopic analogues

ABSTRACT Phobos and Deimos, the two satellites of Mars, were largely studied in the past using ground-based telescope and spacecraft data, although most of the data were obtained by opportunity observations performed by Mars dedicated orbiters. Despite the data available so far, the main composition of the two moons is not yet fully understood. The possible presence of hydrated minerals along with mafic minerals olivine and pyroxene seems to be the most plausible interpretation, but more investigations are needed. MIRS spectrometer on-board the future JAXA MMX sample return mission will help to unveil the open question on the composition of Phobos and Deimos. In this work, we review past spectroscopic observations of the Martian moons, both from ground observatories and spacecraft data set, aiming at better understanding the constraints in interpreting the Mars satellites composition and at identifying the best spectroscopic analogues. We also present new laboratory measurements on mineral mixing and meteorites to match the satellites spectral behaviour. New measurements were acquired at INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri and IPAG laboratories at room conditions exploring different geometries and the results obtained set new constraints for future laboratory measurements. Our preliminary results confirm that the surface of Phobos and Deimos can be associated with samples characterized by a higher presence of dark components (e.g. amorphous carbon) or minerals produced by space weathering (e.g. Fe0 and FeS-bearing materials). Presence of dark component could also be totally responsible for the reduced hydrated band observed on the moons without invoking dehydration or OH-implantation on anhydrous surface.

Economic valuation of irrigating tomato plants with agricultural drainage water remediated with DHS technology

An economic evaluation of the effect of irrigating tomato plants with agricultural drainage water remediated with DHS technology was conducted in a field experiment at Rahawy, Giza governorate. According to the findings, Egypt's reuse of agricultural drainage water meets around 15% of its irrigation needs, while the overall expenses of remediating one cubic metre of agricultural drainage water using DHS technology reached LE 1.03. The volume of irrigation water used to grow tomato plants decreased by 5% in non-remediated soil ecosystems, 14% in soil ecosystems remediated by microbial inoculation and fortified by bentonite clay mineral, and 22% in soil ecosystems receiving a mix of clay minerals, rock phosphate, and sulphur and inoculated by Thiobacillus sps and phosphate dissolving bacteria PDB. the productivity of one feddan of tomato crop irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water reached 11.31 tons per feddan, irrigation with agricultural drainage water increased tomato crop by about 31%, all studied indicators of the economic efficiency of tomato production grown in remediated soil ecosystem and irrigated with remediated agricultural drainage water were higher than their counterparts grown in non-remediated soil ecosystem and irrigated with non-remediated agricultural drainage water.

The removal of iron from synthetic water by the applications of plants leaf biosorbents

The toxic metals present in drinking water pose a threat to the human health. The huge populations are effected to poisonous metals mainly by the water uses. Iron is a heavy metal and found in the earth crust. The presence of iron in water might be recognized to the mixing of rocks and minerals, acid mine drainage, landfill leachate or industries waste discharges. Excessive iron ingestion can lead to an illness known as hemochromatosis. This can be the reason for liver, heart failure as well as diabetes and vomiting and skin aging etc, so that it is necessary to remove iron from water. Bio-sorption is eco-friendly method for treatment of waste water. These methods have certain advantages such as lower cost, easily available and reused. The plant leaf biosorbents have different biosorption capacities, which varied within each taxonomic group and depend on their physical and/or chemical pre-treatment as well as the operational conditions. In these research work, six locally available plant leaf biosorbents i.e. neam leaf, javapalm leaf, guava leaf, sapota leaf, custard apple leaf and mango leaf biosorbents are uses. The mango leaf and guava leaf biosorbents show that the best performance for iron removal from water. Then the optimizations are done in the various parameters like pH, contact time, biosorbent dosages, temperature and rotation speed over mango leaf biosorbents for further improvement in their performances for iron adsorption. This procedure can be made cost-effective by regenerating and reapplication of plant leaf biosorbents after removing the iron from water.

Effect of multi-minerals on the mechanical behavior and pore structure of fiber reinforced internal-cured green concrete

In this study, multi-minerals were incorporated in fiber reinforced internal-cured green concrete (FRICC) to achieve both an improvement in concrete performance and environmental sustainability. The effect of multi-minerals on FRICC with pre-wetted lightweight fine aggregate (LWFA) and basalt-polypropylene (BF-PF) fiber was investigated through examining compressive and flexural strengths, flexural toughness, microstructure, pore structure and CO2 emissions. In comparison to ordinary concrete (mixture PO), FRICC presented good flexural performance but a decreased compressive behavior with an increase of 20.5% in flexural strength and a minor decrease of 1.6% in compressive strength. With the addition of multi-minerals, an enhancement in fiber-strengthening and anti-cracking performance was achieved, presenting a positive effect on concrete's strengths, post-cracking manner and pore structure. The internal curing of pre-wetted LWFA stimulated the pozzolanic reaction of minerals given that a denser microstructure with less porosity and more C–S–H gel effectively bound with aggregates and BF-PF fiber was identified. FRICC with a ternary mix of minerals (10% fly ash, 10% blast furnace slag and 5% metakaolin) exhibited the best mechanical performance and pore structure with an increase of 19.6% and 19.2% in compressive and flexural strength, respectively, and a decrease of 29.3% and 13.6% in porosity and mean pore diameter, respectively. Additionally, a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 19.7% was achieved through adding multi-minerals. In general, the incorporation of multi-minerals brings positive consequences to both the performance of FRICC and environmental sustainability.

Kandungan Kalsium (Ca) dan Fospor (P) Silase Pakan Komplit Berbahan Dasar Jerami Jagung (Zea Mays) dengan Penambahan Azolla (Azolla pinnata) Sebagai Pakan Ternak Ruminansia

Abstract. This study aims to determine the calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content of complete feed silage made from corn straw (Zea mays) with the addition of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as ruminant animal feed. complete feed silage research used a completely randomized design (crd) with 4 treatments and 3 replications. The complete feed treatments applied in this study were: S1= 50% corn straw+30% azolla+19% rice bran+1% mineral mix, s2=50% corn straw+25% azolla+24% rice bran+1 % mineral mix, s3= 50% corn straw+20% azolla+29% rice bran+1% mineral mix, s4=50% corn straw+15% azolla+34% rice bran+1% mineral mix. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the calcium content of complete feed silage made from corn straw (Zea mays) with the addition of azolla at S1, S2, S3, S4 had no significant effect (P> 0.05), the average calcium (Ca) content of the feed was S1 (1.033%), S2 (1.036%), S3 (1.17%) and S4 (0.92%). Treatment S1 was not significantly different from the treatment S2, S3 and S4, S2 was not significantly different from S1, S3, and S4, S3 was not significantly different from S1, S2, and S4 and S4 was not significantly different from S1, S2, and S3. While the calcium content of complete feed silage made from corn straw (Zea mays) with the addition of azolla at S1, S2 and S3 had a significant effect (P<0.05). The average phosphorus content of feed is S1(1, %), S2(1.1%), S3(1.17%) and S4(1.03%). S1 treatment was not significantly different from S4 treatment and significantly different from S2 and S3, S2 was not significantly different from S3 and S4 and significantly different from S1, S3 was significantly different from S4 and S1 and not significantly different from S2, S4 was not significantly different from S1 and S2 but significantly different from S3. It was concluded that the addition of azolla (Azolla pinnata) at different levels to complete feed silage made from corn straw (Zea mays) did not significantly affect the calcium (Ca) content, but had a significant effect on the phosphorus (P) content. The best treatment in S3 with the addition of azolla (Azolla pinnata) 20%. Keywords: Azolla (Azolla pinnata), corn straw (Zea mays), calcium (ca) and phosphorus (p) content, complete silage

Physiochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food Prepared Using Bambara Groundnut-Moringa oleifera Leaf Protein Complex.

The utilisation of local raw material in the production of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is worthy of exploration for the replacement of full-fat milk, peanut butter, mineral and vitamin mix used in the standard formulation. The objective of this study was to produce snack bars that will meet the protein requirement set by World Health Organisation (WHO) for RUTF (13–16% by weight) using the Bambara groundnut-Moringa oleifera leaf protein complex (BAMOLP). The BAMOnut snack bars were simulated using the mixture preparation procedure in Superpro Designer to determine different proportions of BAMOLP, Moringa oleifera leaf powder, egusi, oats, and millet. Three bars formulated were; BAMOnut-OB3 (BAMOnut Bar enriched with oats and 3% BAMOLP), BAMOnut-MB2 (BAMOnut Bar enriched with millet and 2% BAMOLP), and BAMOnut-OMB5 (BAMOnut Bar enriched with oats, millets, and 5% BAMOLP). The snack bars were assessed for physical, nutritional, proximate and bench-top sensory properties. BAMOnut-OB3 was firmer and less crumbly, with a larger particle size. BAMOnut-OB3 had the lowest water activity, lightest colour and the best amino acid profile. The moisture (4.9%), protein (14.1%), fat (19.3%), carbohydrate (59.7%), and energy (468.6 Kcal/100 g) of BAMOnut-OB3, compare favourably with the requirements for RUTF (2.5% moisture, 13–16% protein, 26–36% fat, 41–58% carbohydrate, and 520–550 Kcal/100 g energy). Local raw materials can be successfully used in the production of RUTF.

A Novel Mouse Model to Examine the Double-Burden of Ambient Heat and Micronutrient Insufficiency on Fetal Growth

ObjectivesUndernutrition and malnutrition in women of childbearing age are associated with increased risk of fetal growth restriction and poor infant development. Climate change, specifically the rise in ambient temperature, is thought to exacerbate the effects of malnutrition. However, few mechanistic models exist to examine the interactions between maternal nutritional status and ambient temperature on fetal growth. MethodsFemale C57BL6/J mice (8 wk old, n = 6–8/group) were given ad libitum access to either AIN-93G (CON) or a modified AIN-93 diets containing 70% mineral, micronutrient, and vitamin mix (70MMV) for 4 weeks. The 70MMV diet is not designed to cause nutritional deficiency, but rather a lower nutritional plane. Plug positive females were housed at either 22⁰C or 33⁰C in an environmental chamber for the duration of pregnancy, while remaining on their respective diets. Body weights and food intake were assessed weekly. Placenta tissue as well as fetal, placental, and liver weights were collected at dpc 17.5. ER stress related gene targets in the placenta were assessed by RT-qPCR. ResultsBody weight gains over pregnancy were significantly reduced in animals fed 70MMV compared to CON diet. There was no change in liver to body weight ratios across groups, however there was a slight reduction in liver to body ratio in the 33⁰C compared to 22⁰C group on CON diet. Placental weights were significantly reduced in 33⁰C group, with a more severe reduction in the 70MMV + 33⁰C group. Notably, fetal weights of dams exposed to both 33⁰C and 70 MMV diet showed significant reductions in fetal weights. Two-way ANOVA for fetal weights showed a significant diet and temperature interaction. Pairwise comparisons showed no difference between temperatures on CON diet, but significantly lower fetal weights in the 70MMV + 33⁰C relative to 70MMV + 22⁰C. ConclusionsOur results point to an interaction between modest heat and micronutrient insufficiency in the pathogenesis of fetal growth restriction, highlighting the emerging nexus of maternal nutrition and heat stress typically seen in resource-restrained settings. Funding SourcesCU-Department of Pediatrics and Anschutz Health and Wellness Center.

Organic solvent vapor/thermal responsive binary gels with tunable transparency and mechanical strength

In this work, we illustrate the fabrication of binary gels via self-sorting assembly between β-cyclodextrin and the second gelators, which show significant transparency changes responsive to the solvent vapor and temperature. The mixing of β-cyclodextrin and clay minerals in the mixture of dimethylformamide and water produced opaque gels. After exposed to specific solvent environments, the light transmittance of opaque gels was greatly enhanced ascribed to the host-guest complexation between β-cyclodextrin and organic solvent vapors. Toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and pyridine aroused gel fiber to bulky crystal transformation, which also slightly enhanced the mechanical strength of the binary gels. In addition, the gelator could be expanded to organic gelator like folic acid. This work offers a feasible way to fabricate soft gel composites that show transparency changes responsive to solvent vapors.

The Role of Selenium in Controlling Reproductive Disorder in Beef Cattle

Reproductive failure is regarded as a problem in the breeding of beef cattle as indicated by low calving rate, low conception rate, longer periods of calving interval, and neonatal mortality. Selenium deficiency may lead to non-infectious reproduction disorder in ruminants. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the role of selenium in preventing reproduction failure of beef cattle. In the reproduction process, selenium is required for cellular respiration, cellular oxidation, DNA and RNA replication, the integrity of cells membrane, and releasing free radicals. Selenocysteine (SeCys) is the main component of selenoprotein consisting of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) to inhibit free radicals formation and reduce risks of tissue damage. Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) involved are: GPX-1 (cytosolic), GPX-2 (gastrointestinal specific), GPX-3 (plasma/extracellular), GPX-4 (phospholipid-hydroperoxides/intracellular) and GPX-5 (spermatozoa mitochondrial capsule). Selenium as an antioxidant is potentially involved in reducing fertility, stillbirth, abortus, and premature in cows based on oxidative stress and selenium deficiency. In male cattle, the role of selenium is to maintain the integrity of cells membrane, spermatozoa fertility, and ejaculation. The selenium deficiency may therefore affect spermatozoa fertility, motility, and fusion to oocytes due to lipid peroxidation. It is then regarded as a factor in reproductive failure mainly in the infertility of cattle. Treatments for reproductive failure due to selenium deficiency could be conducted by supplementing selenium in the mineral mix, periodical dosing of selenium salt, and providing Se-mineral block, the combination of selenium and vitamin E or selenium supplementation in soils to improve the quality of fodder and feeds.

Holocene heavy mineral assemblages in a coastal compartment in eastern Australia

Heavy minerals along the east coast of Australia form part of a northward transport pathway that moves sediment from southern New South Wales to Queensland, Australia. The proportion and occurrence of heavy minerals from non-local source rocks reflect reworking of quartz sand from the outer-shelf to the inner-shelf and coastal environments during the post-glacial marine transgression. The northward transport system is disrupted by a prominent headland to preserve a locally derived pyroxene-rich heavy mineral suite in the Kiama coastal compartment. The heavy mineral assemblage indicates derivation from multiple Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic sources in southern Australia and possibly Antarctica, including the Lachlan Fold Belt and Sydney Basin in southeastern Australia. The common pyroxene was derived locally from coastal Permian latite units in the Sydney Basin, Mesozoic tinguaites and the Eocene Robertson Basalt.Five identified mineralogical facies are controlled by spatial variability of heavy mineral assemblages rather than the textural characteristics of the sediment. The upper river facies is dominated by catchment-derived augite. The Minnamurra spit and back-barrier facies has the highest heavy mineral content with abundant ultrastable and metastable minerals consistent with their accumulation as prograding coastal barriers. The two high-energy sand-dominated inner-shelf facies contain a mix of ultrastable and metastable heavy minerals with pyroxene being more common in the inner zone while zircon, rutile, garnet, epidote, andalusite and monazite/apatite are more common in the outer zone where they are affected by the regional northward sand migration. The low-energy mid-shelf facies (depth >55 m) is finer grained and contains the highest proportion of micaceous minerals and hornblende. The adjacent probable tsunami sandsheets at Dunmore have very similar heavy mineral signatures to the coastal barrier and inner shelf deposits and were probably derived from them.