Management of hemoptysis in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

The association between body weight-age and egg weight-age patterns was studied in a segregating population of laying hens belonging to the F3 generation of a Rhode Island Red x White Leghorn reciprocal cross. Body weight and egg weight were expressed as a function of time using the model developed by Weatherup and Foster. Each hen was characterized in terms of its asymptotic body weight (ABW), maturing rate for body weight (MBW), asymptotic egg weight (AEW), and maturing rate for egg weight (MEW) values. Four groups of hens were distinguished by means of a principal component analysis. Birds belonging to Groups 1 and 3 were discriminated for their egg weight-age pattern. Group 1 included hens laying the heaviest eggs (AEW = 66.1 g) at the lowest maturing rate (MEW = 0.922), the inverse being true for birds in Group 3 (AEW = 55.7 g and MEW = 0.737). Birds belonging to Groups 2 and 4 were distinguished for their body weight-age pattern. Hens in Group 2 showed the lowest ABW (1,893 g) and MBW (0.764) whereas the heaviest (ABW = 2,802 g) and less mature (MBW = 0.929) birds were found in Group 4. The results confirm the partial pleiotropic basis of the body weight-egg weight correlation, evincing the feasibility of applying selective pressure not only on each character separately but also on maturing rate independently of asymptotic weight within each trait. This strategy could be implemented using a biological selection index based on principal component analysis equations.     

Acute high environmental temperature and calcium-estrogen relationship in the hen

Much is known about the effects of high environmental temperature (HT) on egg production, but very little is understood about the mechanisms that underlie them. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of acute heat stress on circulating estradiol, on calcium uptake by gut tissue, on bone resorption, and on the dynamic relationship between estradiol and calcium in the hen during one ovulatory cycle. In one study, hens were moved individually and randomly into a hot [HT: temperature (T) = 35 C, relative humidity (RH) = 50%; n = 18] or a control, thermoneutral (TN: T = 23 C, RH = 50%; n = 18) environment immediately after a mid-sequence oviposition and brachial vein cannulation. Blood samples (2 mL) were collected every 3 h for 21 h for ionized calcium (Ca2+) and pH determinations and from which aliquots were frozen for 17 beta-estradiol (E2), total calcium (TCa), and inorganic P analysis. Excreta and urine were assayed for TCa and hydroxyproline (OHPr), respectively. A second study was conducted to determine the effects of HT (T = 35, H = 50%, 12 h) vs TN (T = 23 C, RH = 50%, 12 h) on the ability of duodenal cells to take up calcium (CaT). Blood pH and calcium responded to HT as expected (pH increased, Ca2+ decreased, and TCa decreased) and the cyclic pattern of Ca2+ in blood was abolished. The ratio of Ca2+:TCa decreased sharply at approximately the onset of shell calcification in control hens, but in HT hens there was no clear change in the ratio of any point in the cycle. The pattern of E2 typical of hens under normal conditions was significantly depressed in plasma of HT hens. Calcium uptake by duodenal epithelial cells of HT hens was lower than in TN hens. There was a clear inverse correlation between blood Ca2+ and urine OHPr in TN hens (r2 = -73, P = 0.0021) but not in HT hens (r2 = -27, P = 0.32). In addition to alterations in acid-base balance and the status of Ca2+, diminished ability of duodenal cells to transport calcium may be a critical factor in the detrimental effects of heat stress on egg production (numbers), eggshell characteristics, and skeletal integrity often documented in the laying hen.     

In vivo model for assessing the functional efficacy of endodontic filling materials and techniques

Endodontic fillings were challenged with bacterial ingress in mandibular premolars of 4 beagle dogs. Groups 1, 2, and 3 (n = 9), had canals filled with gutta-percha and sealer, gutta-percha alone, and sealer alone, respectively. After 2 wk, pulp chambers were inoculated with plaque. Group 4 (n = 9) and group 5 (n = 5) had canals either filled as in groups 1 to 3 or unfilled, respectively, but not inoculated. Group 6 (n = 5) had canals unfilled and inoculated. Teeth were radiographed periodically for 14 wk, dogs terminated, and jaw blocks retrieved and processed for light microscopic examination. Rarefying osteitis appeared in group 6 at 3 wk and in groups 2, 3, and 5 at 11 wk. Periradicular inflammation was none, mild, or severe. Occurrence of severe inflammation in groups 1 to 6 was 0, 11%, 33%, 0, 60%, and 100%, respectively. Groups 1 to 3 combined differed significantly from group 4 (repeated-measures ANOVA, p < 0.05). This model could be used to assess the functional efficacy of endodontic fillings in vivo.     

Enrichment of hen eggs with n-3 long-chain fatty acids and evaluation of enriched eggs in humans

Eggs enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were produced by hens fed diets containing fish oil or a combination of fish and vegetable oils. In a sensory evaluation, 78 untrained volunteers could not distinguish between ordinary and enriched eggs. Storage life was also not significantly different between egg types. A food intake survey of 4 groups of 14 subjects each who consumed 7 eggs/wk for 24 wk showed that intakes of the major dietary components were not significantly different for 4 different egg types. Mean (n = 56) plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were not significantly different at the start and finish of the study. Body weight and HDL concentrations increased during the study (P < 0.05). For the last 2 wk of the experiment (weeks 23-24), mean egg consumption was increased from a total of 14 to a total of 21 eggs, resulting in a small increase in plasma triacylglycerols only. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in body weight, blood pressure, or plasma lipid components among treatment groups consuming the 4 different egg types. Blood samples taken after 16 and 22 wk from fasted subjects showed significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and total n-3 PUFAs in subjects consuming enriched eggs compared with controls. In addition, the ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFAs in plasma was significantly reduced from 12.2:1 to 6.5-7.7:1 in subjects consuming enriched eggs compared with controls. Consumption of only one enriched egg daily can contribute substantially to the recommended daily intake of n-3 PUFAs.     

Duration of fertility in ad libitum and feed-restricted caged broiler breeders

It has been shown in previous studies that fertility can be reduced in overweight broiler breeder (BB) flocks. In an effort to determine the effect of ad libitum feeding on the duration of fertility in BB hens, 60 52-wk-old Shaver Starbro hens were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, ad libitum feeding (F) or restricted feeding (R) to maintain breeder target weights. All hens were reared to 52 wk under conditions of feed restriction. All birds were weighed individually on a weekly basis. At the beginning of each of two 4-wk study periods (56 to 60 wk and 60 wk to 64 wk), all birds were inseminated on 2 consecutive d with 0.05 mL pooled BB semen. All eggs were weighed and placed in a forced air incubator the same day that they were laid. After 7 to 10 d of incubation, the eggs were broken out and scored macroscopically as fertile with live embryo, fertile with dead embryo (early embryonic death), or clear (assumed infertile). The duration of fertility was defined as the number of days from the day after the second insemination to the last fertile egg before two consecutive interfile eggs. Hen BW were significantly different between treatments within each of the two 4-wk studies. The mean BW of the F hens was 4,261 g in Study 1 and 4,448 g in Study 2. The BW of the R hens were 3,459 g in Study 1 and 3,565 g in Study 2. Egg production levels and average egg weight was not different between treatments in either study. In Study 1, the duration of fertility for the F hens (12.7 d) and the R hens (12.7 d) were not different. In Study 2, the durations of fertility were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the R hens (12.7 d) than in the F hens (10.0 d). These results support the theory that overweight BB have a reduced duration of fertility that may contribute to a reduced fertility in artificially inseminated and naturally mated flocks.     

Effects of dietary taurine on egg weight

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether taurine supplementation to laying hens would influence laying performance. In Experiment 1, a total of 120 White Leghorn hens were fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.25, or 0.5% taurine for 5 wk. Egg weight was reduced significantly by supplementing 0.25 and 0.5% taurine; however, taurine did not affect other laying performance variables. In Experiment 2, a total of 240 White Leghorn hens were fed diets supplemented with 0 or 0.5% taurine and 0 or 0.1% methionine for 7 wk. Egg weight was decreased due to supplementing taurine in the diets; however, dietary methionine did not affect egg weight, and there was no interaction between dietary taurine and methionine. These results suggest that dietary taurine has the potential to decrease egg weight without affecting egg production, feed conversion, or body weight.     

Characterization of hemolytic and cytotoxic Gallysins: a relationship with arylphorins

The efficacy of injecting antibodies raised against turkey prolactin to prevent the expression of incubation behaviour has been investigated in turkey hens. Medium white turkey hens (n = 15 x 2) were injected three times weekly for 4 consecutive weeks starting on week 5 of egg production. The hens were injected im with a volume of 1 mL per injection for the 1st week and 0.5 mL thereafter, of normal rabbit serum or serum containing antibodies raised against turkey prolactin (Guémené et al, 1994a). None of the 15 passively immunised hens expressed incubation behaviour, whereas, more than half (53%) of the control hens did express it. Plasma prolactin concentrations observed in the two groups presented comparable profiles until week 9 and from week 19 of egg production onward. Differences were, therefore, observed from week 10 until week 17 with the non immunised hens showing higher plasma prolactin concentrations than the immunised ones. This difference was related to the presence of incubating hens in the control group. A higher percentage of non immunised hens disrupted egg production during the course of the study and consequently immunised hens laid more eggs than the control ones. No change in plasma LH and oestradiol concentrations can be related to the immunisation procedure. We conclude that prevention of incubation behaviour can be achieved using passive immunisation against prolactin, prevention which resulted in more egg production under our experimental protocol.     

化合物半导体材料的光电应用现状

在整个化合物半导体工业中，光电子工业一直占主导地位。本文概述了化合物半导体材料在发光二极管(LED)、激光二极管(LD)、太阳电池(SC)和光探测器(PD)方面的应用现状及发展趋势。以高亮度LED为基础的固态光源由于有着巨大的经济效益、能源效益和环境效益从而有很好的发展前景。量子结构光电器件由于具有一系列独特性能，将越来越受到重视。     

Arginine vasotocin receptor in the vagina of the oviduct of the hen

The presence of receptor for arginine vasotocin (AVT) in the vagina of the oviduct of the hen was demonstrated by the use of radioligand binding assays on membrane fractions of the tissue. The binding to [125I]AVT was highly competitive with unlabeled AVT. Scatchard analysis revealed that the binding sites are of a single class. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) was 0.48+/-0.05 nM (x+/-SEM; n = 6) in laying hens holding a hard-shelled egg in the uterus (shell gland) and 1.01+/-0.02 nM (n = 6) in nonlaying hens. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) was 0.41+/-0.04 pmol/mg protein (n = 6) in laying hens and 0.81+/-0.01 pmol/mg protein (n = 6) in nonlaying hens. The Kd value of the laying hens varied from 0.39 to 1.20 nM during an oviposition cycle, showing an increase just prior to oviposition, and the Bmax value also varied from 0.30 to 0.66 pmol/mg protein, showing a gradual increase after 6 h prior to oviposition. In the nonlaying hen, both values were almost constant during a 24-h day. The changes in the binding affinity and capacity of AVT receptor of the vagina may be related to oviposition in the hen.     

Effects of read-out light sources and ambient light on radiochromic film

Both read-out light sources and ambient light sources can produce a marked effect on coloration of radiochromic film. Fluorescent, helium neon laser, light emitting diode (LED) and incandescent read-out light sources produce an equivalent dose coloration of 660 cGy h(-1), 4.3 cGy h(-1), 1.7 cGy h(-1) and 2.6 cGy h(-1) respectively. Direct sunlight, fluorescent light and incandescent ambient light produce an equivalent dose coloration of 30 cGy h(-1), 18 cGy h(-1) and 0 cGy h(-1) respectively. Continuously on, fluorescent light sources should not be used for film optical density evaluation and minimal exposure to any light source will increase the accuracy of results.     

Susceptibility of Nd:YAG laser-irradiated root surfaces in replanted teeth to external inflammatory resorption

Nd:YAG laser-induced modification of the root surface may inhibit development of external inflammatory resorption in replanted teeth. This study tested this hypothesis in vivo. The pulp chambers of six mandibular premolars in each of two dogs were accessed, inoculated with plaque, and sealed (Groups 1, 2). Two additional premolars in each dog were endodontically treated without inoculation (Groups 3, 4). After 2 weeks, teeth were hemisected and extracted. Each root had a 2 x 3 mm surface area denuded of cementum on the buccal and lingual surface. In Groups 1 (n = 12 roots) and 3 (n = 4), the denuded surfaces were wiped with 15% EDTA, coated with black ink, and irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (0.75 W, 15 pps, 300 microns tip, 20 s). In Groups 2 (n = 12) and 4 (n = 4), the surfaces were wiped with 15% EDTA, and rinsed with sterile saline for 20 s. Roots were replanted within 5 min. The dogs were perfusion-euthanised 10 weeks after replantation. Block specimens were removed, decalcified, embedded and horizontally sectioned (6 microns) at 180-microns intervals, resulting in 10 to 14 cross-sections of each root. From these, the middle five consecutive sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and observed by light microscopy for occurrence of surface, inflammatory and replacement resorption on the denuded surfaces. No obvious differences were noted between the laser-irradiated and non-irradiated surfaces. Inflammatory resorption was frequent in Groups 1 and 2, and absent in Groups 3 and 4. Replacement resorption was minimal in Groups 1 and 2, and frequent in Groups 3 and 4. Differences between Groups 1 and 2, and between Groups 3 and 4 were not significant, whereas the differences between the two pairs of groups were statistically significant (chi-square and two-way ANOVA, P < 0.006). These results did not support the hypothesis, and questioned the clinical validity of the surface modification in Nd:YAG laser-irradiated dentin. Therefore, the clinical application of Nd:YAG laser to the root surfaces of replanted teeth is not warranted.     

Effect of dietary aminoguanidine on tissue pentosidine and reproductive performance in broiler breeder hens

Factors influencing the age-related decline in production parameters of broiler breeder hens are poorly understood. Elevated blood glucose concentrations measured in broiler breeder hens may contribute to this decline. The nonenzymatic attachment of glucose to proteins generates glycoxidation crosslinks in tissue proteins, which can ultimately impair their function. One such glycoxidation crosslink, pentosidine, has been used as a biomarker for aging studies because of its accumulation on the structural protein collagen. The objectives of these studies were to determine whether pentosidine accumulates with age in hens and whether the crosslinking inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AG), could retard this accumulation. An additional objective was to determine whether AG had any effect on production performance. In the first study, broiler breeder hens (n = 318) were randomly assigned to two groups: control and supplemented (400 ppm AG). Pentosidine was measured in the skin of the birds at 20 and 67 wk of age. Egg production was measured daily. In a second study, broiler breeder hens (n = 60) were reared as previously described. Pentosidine was measured in the skin of the birds at 20 and 68 wk of age. Results showed that pentosidine was present in the skin of the hens, and that concentrations increased with age (P < 0.001). Although pentosidine was reduced (P < 0.001) in AG-supplemented birds, production performance was not affected. In conclusion, AG retarded the rate of accumulation of pentosidine during lay in broiler breeder hens, but the reduction in pentosidine did not significantly affect production performance.     

Effect of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development in commercial Pekin ducks

At 26, 31, 36, and 42 wk of age, eggs were collected from the same duck breeder flock to study the effects of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development. At each hen age, yolk and albumen measurements were made on a random subsample of unincubated eggs. Embryo and yolk sac measurements were made at 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, and 28 d of incubation. Egg weight was significantly affected by hen production age, but most of the observed age effects occurred between 26 and 31 wk with minimal age differences thereafter due to a quantitative feed restriction for egg weight. Yolk weight increased significantly with hen production age, with the largest increase, 6.6 g, also occurring between 26 and 31 wk of age. Yolk-free duckling weight increased with hen production age at 27 d of incubation. The yolk sacs of embryos from the 31-, 36-, and 42-wk-old hens were heavier at 20 and 22 d, before the differentiation in embryo weight. Differences in yolk sac weight were not consistently affected by hen production age between 26 and 28 d of incubation. The eggs from the 42-wk-old hens weighed 3.3 g less than those from the 31-wk-old hens, but yolk-free duckling weight at 27 d was 2.9 g heavier from the 42-wk-old hens.     

Influence of Fusarium-infected corn and F-2 on laying hens

Diets containing either Fusarium-infected corn supplying 25 and 100 p.p.m. of F-2 (zearalenone) or purified F-2 at these levels did not adversely influence the reproductive performance of laying hens. In trial 1, no deleterious effects were observed for 20- and 36-week body weights, age at first egg, egg weight, albumen height, shell deformation, fertility or hatchability when Fusarium-infected corn was fed to 20-week-old pullets for 28 days. Percent hen-day egg production of birds fed Fusarium-infected corn supplying 25 and 100 p.p.m. of F-2 was superior (P less than or equal to 0.5) to egg production of nontreated controls. In trial 2, three replications of ten adult Leghorn hens were evaluated under five dietary treatments: (1) 16.7% protein basal; (2) basal plus Fusarium-infected corn (25 p.p.m. of F-2); (3) basal plus 25 p.p.m. of (purified) F-2; (4) basal plus Fusarium-infected corn (100 p.p.m. of F-2); (5) basal plus 100 p.p.m. of (purified) F-2. Difference between dietary treatments for 14-day pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment periods were nonsignificant for 42- and 44-week body weights, egg production, egg weights, fertility and hatchability. Body weights of chicks from hens fed F-2 diets were not significantly different from those of chicks from hens fed the basal diet.     

工厂照明设计的优化与效果

通过分析金属卤化物灯、无极灯、LED灯的工作原理、特点、技术性能指标,结合工厂照明光源的使用环境,对原照明设计进行了修改,修改后可节约投资、减少维修费用和节约电费。     

Neck dissection in the treatment of cancer of major salivary glands

We investigated the use of PET and 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for detection and therapy control of metastatic germ cell cancer in comparison to CT. METHODS: Fifty-four PET studies were performed in addition to CT in 33 patients with histopathologically proven germ cell tumors (14 seminomas, 18 nonseminomas, 1 not classified). The scans were done either after initial diagnosis (Group 1; n = 12), within 2 wk after completion of chemotherapy (Group 2; n = 13) or 14-375 days after chemotherapy (Group 3; n = 29). PET and CT were validated either by histology (n = 19) or clinical follow-up for 182-1704 days (n = 35). Focal pathological uptake with PET was quantified using standardized uptake values (SUVs). RESULTS: PET was significantly more accurate than CT (0.86 versus 0.59; p < 0.025) for detection of residual viable tumor in Group 3. While sensitivities of PET and CT did not differ markedly, PET was significantly more specific than CT. No significant differences between PET and CT were found in Groups 1 and 2. PET scans after therapy resulted in false-negative findings in five of nine cases of Group 2 but only in two of nine cases of Group 3. False-positive PET findings occurred in three inflammatory processes. SUV of seminomas was significantly higher than in nonseminomas (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PET using FDG is superior to CT for assessment of residual tumor after chemotherapy of germ cell cancer and may thus have an increased effect on patient management in the future. PET must be performed at least 2 wk after completion of therapy. Further data are necessary to determine the role of FDG PET for initial staging of germ cell cancer.     

Effects of dietary fat and eggshell cuticle removal on egg water loss and embryo growth in broiler hatching eggs

The effects of dietary fat and eggshell cuticle removal on egg water loss, embryo growth, and hatchability were determined in eggs from broiler breeder hens at different ages. Hens were fed isocaloric diets containing one of three different types and levels of added fat. In addition, eggs were either left intact or washed to remove the eggshell cuticle prior to set. Cuticle removal increased egg water loss between 43 and 62 wk. Cuticle removal increased relative wet embryo weight at Week 52 and relative dry embryo weight at 52 and 62 wk. Furthermore, at 62 wk, diet and day of incubation interacted to affect wet embryo weight, and diet variably affected dry embryo weight. No treatment differences were observed for cumulative hatchability, rate of hatch, and relative yolk sac weight at Day 19 of incubation. It was concluded that cuticle removal and the addition of fat to breeder diets may influence embryonic growth without having any subsequent effects on hatchability.     

The effect of accidental pre-lighting of turkey hens on subsequent reproduction

The length of the light day was accidentally increased from nine hours to continuous light on one group of thirty-week old hens for an unknown period of not more than eleven days. Egg production, after attaining a level of twenty-five percent, ceased five weeks later as the result of restricting the length of the light day to four hours and two series of feed and water deprivations. One month later hens from the pre-lighted and control groups were brought into egg production. Pre-lighting depressed later egg production more in medium-bodied hens than in large-bodied hens. The major effect of pre-lighting was to reduce the length of a laying period included 9 weeks later with no significant effects on intensity of lay, number of broody periods or average length of the broody period. It was concluded that the egg production would not be greatly reduced by pre-lighting under the above conditions if the length of the laying period were shortened from 180 days to a normal 140-day period.     

Threonine requirements of laying hens

In order to determine the Thr requirement of laying hens, two experiments were conducted using laying performance and plasma Thr concentration as parameters. At 29 and 39 wk of age, 100 and 600 laying hens in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, with average BW and high egg production rate, were randomized, housed in individual cages, and given free access to water and experimental diets with five graded levels of Thr: 0.31, 0.39, 0.46, 0.54, and 0.61% for 21 d in Experiment 1 and diets with 0.31, 0.36, 0.41, 0.46 and 0.51% Thr for 58 d in Experiment 2. On the last day of the experiment, blood samples were taken for determination of plasma amino acid concentration. Feed intake and daily egg mass increased and then decreased linearly as dietary Thr increased. Plasma Thr increased slowly, then sharply with increasing dietary Thr levels. Using the broken-line model, the Thr requirements were estimated to be 0.425, 0.428, and 0.430% or 453, 456, and 458 mg/hen per d in Experiment 1 and 0.395, 0.404, and 0.400%, or 457, 467, and 462 mg/hen per d, in Experiment 2, for egg mass, feed efficiency, and plasma Thr concentration, respectively. These results indicate that the Thr requirements expressed as milligrams per hen per day as determined by plasma Thr concentration agree with those of laying performance.     

Organoleptic evaluation of eggs produced by laying hens fed diets containing graded levels of flaxseed and vitamin E

Eighteen-week-old laying hens were fed diets containing 0, 10, or 20% ground flaxseed and 10 or 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet, in a factorial arrangement. When birds were 60 wk of age, eggs were collected from various treatments and used in taste panel studies. All studies involved freshly boiled eggs. In Experiment 1, four separate panels were conducted to obtain information on egg aroma, egg flavor, presence of any off-flavor, and overall acceptability of the egg. Pooled data showed a very significant difference among panelists for all attributes tested (P < 0.01) and off-flavors were detected in eggs from hens fed 10 and 20% flaxseed with 10 mg vitamin E/kg. In Experiment 2 panelists were asked to evaluate egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability in eggs from birds fed the lowest level of vitamin E with 0 or 10% flaxseed, and birds fed 20% flaxseed and 10 or 100 mg vitamin E/kg. The highest ratings for egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability were for the control eggs. There was a significant reduction in overall acceptability as flaxseed concentration increased (P < 0.05) and an interesting and significant (P < 0.05) decline in overall acceptability for birds fed 100 vs 10 IU vitamin E/kg diet in eggs for birds fed 20% flaxseed. In a third study, there was an indication of preference for eggs from birds not fed flaxseed, when the diet contained 10, rather than 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet. These data suggest that high (> 10%) levels of flaxseed used in the bird's diet will result in some decrease in overall egg acceptability as assessed by aroma and flavor. These effects seem to be accentuated by using high levels of vitamin E in the bird's diet.