Influence of processed corn grain in diets of dairy cows on digestion of nutrients and milk composition

Five primiparous Holstein cows (55 d in milk) that were fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 5 incomplete Latin square to determine the effects of blends of steam-flaked and dry-rolled corn on site and extent of nutrient digestion and milk yield and composition. Diets were fed as total mixed rations and consisted of 45% forage and 55% concentrate; each diet contained 27% corn grain. Dietary treatments were composed of blends of dry-rolled and steam-flaked corn in ratios of 100:0, 67:33, 33:67, and 0:100. Intake of dry matter; digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, cellulose, neutral detergent fiber, fatty acids, and N; and microbial efficiency were unaffected by diet. Ruminal, postruminal, and total tract digestion of starch increased linearly, and starch passage to the duodenum decreased linearly, as the proportion of dry-rolled corn in the diet decreased. Ruminal propionate and valerate increased linearly, and acetate, butyrate, isovalerate, and the acetate to propionate ratio decreased linearly, as proportions of dry-rolled corn in the diet decreased; however, no changes in total volatile fatty acid concentrations in ruminal fluid were observed. Ruminal fluid pH was similar across diets. A decrease in dry-rolled corn decreased ruminal ammonia N and plasma urea N linearly. Milk yield and composition, as well as milk N fractions, were similar across diets. Although changes in fatty acid composition of milk fat were small, linear decreases in percentages of trans-C16:1 and cis-9- and cis-10-C18:1, as well as a linear increase in the percentage of C18:2 occurred as the proportion of dry-rolled corn in the diet decreased. An increased proportion of dry-rolled corn in the diet decreased digestion of starch in the rumen, and patterns of volatile fatty acid concentrations shifted accordingly. However, no effects on lactational parameters were observed.     

Performance, ruminal fermentation, and site of starch digestion in early lactation cows fed corn grain harvested and processed differently

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of corn grain processing on performance, ruminal fermentation, and starch digestion in early lactation dairy cows. Diets were based on wilted alfalfa silage and high moisture or dry corn grain that was either ground or rolled. Thirty-four cows (17 multi-parous) were used to measure effects on intake and lactational performance in a free-stall environment during wk 2 to 15 postpartum. Grinding increased dry matter intake, particularly for cows fed diets containing dry corn, and tended to increase yields of milk, protein lactose, and SNF. Cow performance was not affected by the moisture content of the corn grain. In the digestion experiment, six cows (43 d of lactation) with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were used to measure ruminal and intestinal digestion. Search digestion in the rumen and small intestine was greater for high moisture corn, but disappearance of starch in the large intestine was greater for dry corn. Both the grinding process and the high moisture content of the corn increased starch digestibility in the total tract. Flow of microbial N in the duodenum was not affected by treatment. High moisture corn increased starch digestion in the rumen and total tract and enhanced ruminal fermentation as indicated by increased volatile fatty acids and decreased NH3 concentrations in the rumen. In the production experiment, however, only grinding improved the value of corn; ensiling at high moisture content had little effect.     

The effects of starch and protein degradation rates, hay sources, and feeding frequency on rumen microbial fermentation in a continuous culture system

Six continuous culture fermenters were used in three experiments to study the effects of dietary starch and protein degradability combination, hay sources, and feeding frequency on fermentation by rumen microorganisms. Experiments 1 and 2 used a 3 x 2 factorial design in which six diets were formulated to contain low (LS), medium (MS), or high starch degradability (HS) in combination with low (LP) or high protein degradability (HP). The dietary combinations were (1) LS + HP, (2) LS + LP, (3) MS + HP, (4) MS + LP, (5) HS + HP, and (6) HS + LP. In experiment 1, pangola was used as the hay source, and in experiment 2, alfalfa hay was used. In experiment 3, two starch degradabilities (LS, MS) and two hay sources (alfalfa, A; pangola, P) were combined with two feeding frequencies (2 X/d, 12 X/d). The dietary combinations were (1) LS + A + 12 X/d, (2) MS + A + 12 X/d, (3) LS + A + 2 X/d, (4) MS + A + 2 X/d, (5) LS + P + 12 X/d, and (6) MS + P + 12 X/d. A CRD design was used for experiment 3. Two rumen-cannulated Holstein cows fed alfalfa hay ad lib were used as donors of rumen fluid for all experiments. Each period was 6 d in length, with 5 d for adaptation and 1 d for sampling. In experiments 1 and 2, the effects of starch degradability on the composition of rumen microorganisms were significant. The MS or HS with HP had the highest total bacterial and protozoal density (P < 0.05). As for VFA, pH and nitrogen products, the effects of starch and protein degradability were not significant. There was no interaction between starch and protein degradability on most of microbial composition (ammonia-N, microbial nitrogen). In experiment 3, 12 X/d feeding frequency (MS + A + 12 X/d vs. MS + A + 12 X/d) resulted in higher pH, which tended to increase bacterial and protozoal density and starch and protein digestibilities. Different hay sources altered the starch and protein synchronization effect on the ammonia-N concentration (mg/dl) and non-ammonia N content (% DM) in the continuous culture system.     

Effect of dietary corn starch intake on ruminal, small intestinal and large intestinal starch digestion in cattle

In Exp. 1, 24 yearling Holstein steers averaging 340 kg were fed either an alfalfa hay diet at a maintenance level of metabolizable energy (ME) intake or corn silage-corn diets at one, two or three times maintenance ME intake. After a 42-day adjustment period, steers were fed individually, and digestibilities of total alpha-glucosides, starch oligosaccharides and glucose were determined at 2-week intervals, with chromic oxide used as an indicator. Steers fed the alfalfa hay diet had higher (P less than .05) total tract digestibilities of total alpha-glucosides and starch than steers fed the corn diets. Fecal starch (percentage of dry matter) in steers fed the corn diets increased (P less than .05) from approximately 11 to 31% as level of ME intake increased from one to three times maintenance. Starch digestibilities for the corn diets fed at one, two and three times maintenance were 81.4, 76.4 and 76.0%, respectively. However, these trends toward reduced starch digestibilities were not significant. There appeared to be no apparent adaption of alpha-glucoside digestibility in the total digestive tract among steers fed different levels of corn over the intervals observed. In Exp. 2, four Holstein steers (350 KH) were each fitted with duodenal and ileal reentrant cannulas and fed either a low or a high level of corn. Alpha-glucoside intakes for animals given the low and high levels of cord averaged 1.7 and 3.2 kg, respectively. Steers fed the high level of corn digested more (p less than .05) alpha-glucoside in the total tract (2.9 vs 1.6 kg), reticulo-rumen (2.3 vs 1.2 kg) and large intestine level of corn. Steers fed the high level of corn also digested more corn in the small intestine (.415 vs .221 kg) than steers fed the lower level; however, differences were not significant. Although there were trends toward lower partial digestion coefficients (expressed as a percentage of alpha-glucoside presented to that segment) in the total tract, reticulo-rumen and small intestine for steers fed the high corn diet, the magnitude of the differences was not significant.     

Effect of corn plants and rhizosphere populations on pesticide degradation

The aim of this study was to check the usefulness of urine beta-hexosaminidase activity determination as a tool of monitoring sobriety in alcohol dependent individuals. The examinations were performed in 93 patients undergoing detoxification treatment after heavy drinking and in 29 individuals who were starting psychotherapeutic treatment after declaring at least 2 weeks abstinence period. Enzyme activity was determined using a spectrofluorimetric method and was referred to urine creatinine level. In the detoxification group the abnormally high beta-hexosaminidase activity was decreasing gradually toward normal values within 2 weeks. In less than 10% of the patients atypical increase was observed in the course of treatment, what could be attributed to an, influence of nonspecific factors or possibly to misbehavior (alcohol drinking or urine samples substitution). Among individuals who declared at least 2 weeks abstinence period (psychotherapeutic group) in 25% of cases abnormally high enzyme activity was detected, what suggested their more recent alcohol drinking.     

In situ studies of grain growth in thin metal films

Grain growth in thin films of aluminum has been studied using in situ transmission electron microscopy and a heating stage. Videotapes taken during grain growth were analyzed with the intent of searching for the predominant local rearrangement processes responsible for growth. Evolution of a soap froth can be decomposed into only two elementary local topology rearranging events. We have found numerous exceptions to prevailing theories that compare grain growth in thin films to the evolution of such froths. These observations suggest that a more complete picture of grain growth is necessary and that such a theory must include more complex local rearrangement processes.     

Influence of grain size on the hardness of alpha plutonium

The effect of grain size on the hardness of alpha plutonium was measured at temperatures between 77° and 373°K. The observations were: 1) fine-grained metal had the lowest hardness at 373°K, 2) fine-grained metal had the highest hardness at 77°K, and 3) fine-grained metal had the greatest temperature dependence of hardness. At room temperature, fine-grained α-plutonium (1 μm) had a hardness of 235 Dph, whereas coarse-grained metal (2000 μm) had a hardness of 310 Dph. At 373°K fine-grained metal had a hardness of 120 compared to 225 Dph for the coarse-grained metal. At 77°K the hardness values were 505 and 475 Dph, the fine-grained metal being harder at this temperature. The hardness was estimated to be independent of grain size at 140°K. Above 140°K, grain boundaries have a softening effect due to the contribution of grain boundary sliding to deformation.     

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.     

Influence of resistive forces on grain boundary motion

Abstract

Velocity of a grain boundary is determined by a balance between the driving force and the sum of all resistive forces acting on the boundary. In addition to the intrinsic resistive (drag) force, at least four unique extrinsic resistive forces can be identified: a surface pinning force, a surface drag force, an impurity pinning force, and an impurity drag force. Although the impurity drag force has been analyzed extensively, similar attention to other resistive forces thus far has been neglected. It is the purpose of this communication to describe the aforementioned resistive forces and indicate how their presence leads to a dynamic model for grain boundary motion involving both grain boundary pinning and drag. It is suggested that motion is effected by formation of impurity clusters at the boundary, thus permitting breakaway to proceed more easily. Accordingly, resultant properties are affected not only by final grain boundary configuration but also by kinetics of cluster dissolution in the wake of the moving boundary.

Résumé

La vitesse de migration d'un joint de grain est déterminée par l'équilibre qui s'ètablit entre la force motrice et la somme de to utes les forces résistives agissant sur le joint. En plus de la force résistive intrinséque (trainage), au moins quatre autres forces extrinsèques peuvent être identifiées: une force d'épinglage de surface, une force de trainage de surface, une force d'épinglage par les impuretés et une force de traînage due aux impuretés. Alors que cette dernière a été étudiée de façon intensive les autres forces ont été jusqu'a présent négligées. Le but de cette communication est de décrire les forces ci-dessus mentionnées et d'indiquer comment leur présence conduit à un modèle dynamique de la migration des joints incluant le traînage et l'épinglage du joint. L'auteur suggère que la migration est influencée par la formation d'amas d'impuretes au joint, ce qui permet un désépinglage plus aisé. Il s'ensuit que les propriétés de la migration ne sont pas seulement affectées par la configuration finale du joint de grain, mais aussi par la cinétique de dissolution des amas dans le sillage du joint migrant.     

Dependence of nucleic acid degradation on in situ free-radical production by adriamycin

Adriamycin (Adr) is one of the most powerful antitumor drugs. Its therapeutic effect may be due to its cyclic reduction-oxidation and, thus, generation of oxygen radicals. Using the spin-trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and EPR we have demonstrated that in an enzymatic system consisting of NADPH, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and Fe(EDTA)2 Adr stimulates formation of .OH radicals in the presence of DNA or RNA with equal efficiency. Incubation of nucleic acids in the Adr-dependent reaction generating .OH radicals resulted in extensive degradation of double- and single-stranded DNA, but did not effect RNA. In contrast, both DNA and RNA were effectively destroyed in a footprinting system, ascorbate-Fe(EDTA)2-H2O2, which generates .OH radicals in massive quantities. Fluorescence assays indicated that Adr forms stable complexes with ds- and ss-DNA but reacts only slightly with RNA. We conclude that the formation of Adr-nucleic acid complex is necessary for .OH radical-mediated cleavage of the latter, and thus, Adr may be regarded as a chemical nuclease acting in situ.     

The effectiveness of formaldehyde treatment in protecting dietary protein from rumen microbial degradation

The kinetics of digoxin have been investigated in healthy volunteers using an isotopic tracer technique. A three compartment open kinetic model has been proposed as the simplest model consistent with the plasma, urinary and faecal data obtained. The renal clearance of digoxin (mean +/- s.d.) was found to be 119+/-10 ml/min, which did not differ significantly from the glomerular filtration rate (110+/-14 ml/min). Digoxin extra-renal clearance (mean+/-s.d.) was found to be 47+/-7 ml/min. The model predicts that the tissue concentration attained after four 0.25 mg oral doses spread over 24 h can be achieved within a period of 4 h following a single oral loading dose of 1 mg. Maintenance doses can be derived from a simple formula based on the glomerular filtration rate, extra-renal clearance and bioavailability of the digoxin preparation used.     

Influence of convection on feathery grain formation in aluminum alloys

The influence of convection on the formation of feathery grains, i.e., of columnar grains made of twinned dendrites growing along 〈110〉 directions, in AA1050 aluminum alloys has been studied. Round billets have been semicontinuously cast in a mold equipped with lateral liquid feeding. The fluid flow pattern in the liquid sump has been modeled using Fidap software. Feathery grains have been observed in the region opposite the mold entrance, i.e., in regions where the change of the velocity field (shearing rate) is the highest. Electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) maps of two feathery regions, which were symmetric with respect to the liquid flow pattern, showed clear symmetry relationships. Furthermore, the 〈110〉 secondary dendrite arms had grown in directions opposite to the fluid flow. This experimental evidence brings more experimental support to the mechanism of feathery grain formation proposed earlier by Henry et al.     

Retrograded high-amylose corn starch reduces cholic acid excretion from the small bowel in ileostomy subjects

OBJECTIVE: To study the short-term effect of resistant starch (RS) from retrograded high-amylose corn starch (HACS) on the excretion of bile acids and nutrients from the small bowel in humans. DESIGN: Seven healthy ileostomists were given a controlled, constant diet during three days. On days 2 and 3, 100 g/d of one of two test-products--drum-dried ordinary corn starch and autoclaved retrograded HACS, providing 5 and 39 g RS/d, respectively--was given, in random order. Ileostomy effluents were collected for 24 h per day and analysed for wet weight, dry weight, energy, bile acids and nutrients. SETTINGS: In-patient study at the metabolic ward, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, G?teborg. RESULTS: Consumption of retrograded HACS caused (1) a 42% lower mean excretion of cholic acid (P = 0.024); (2) a 42% lower mean wet weight concentration of bile acids (P < 0.001); (3) a 70% increased excretion of dry weight (P = 0.001); and (4) a 41% increased excretion of energy (P= 0.036) compared with consumption of drum-dried ordinary corn starch. CONCLUSION: The reduced ileal excretion and concentration of cholic acid would be protective regarding colon cancer risk in addition to the increased fermentation substrate provided by RS and other energy-yielding components.     

Creep failure by degradation of the microstructure and grain boundary cavitation in a tensile test

For tensile test specimens under constant load creep failure is analysed, based on constitutive relations that account for the nucleation and growth of grain boundary cavities in polycrystalline metals at high temperatures. The material model is formulated in the context of finite strains, so that failure due to loss of cross-sectional area, as well as the possibility of necking, are incorporated in the analysis. Furthermore, the present investigation accounts for the possibility of creep acceleration induced by a gradual degradation of the microstructure. The results include cases in which the three types of failure mechanisms interact, as well as cases where any one of the mechanisms dominate. Most of the investigation is based on a simple one-dimensional model analysis; but a full axisymmetric numerical analysis is used to investigate a few cases, in which necking plays a role.     

Influence of grain size and porosity on the high-temperature friction of titanium carbide

Conclusions It was established that in friction of a TiC-TiC pair in vacuum the coefficient of friction at 250C and the wear rate at 1250C are practically independent of grain size. At higher temperatures these characteristics have an inverse relationship to grain size.It was shown that with an increase in porosity both the wear rate and the coefficient of friction increase. With an increase in temperature the influence of porosity on the wear rate decreases.With variations in porosity in the 1–10% range, in grain size in the 1–50 m range, and in temperature in the 20–1500C range the wear rate changes within limits of 10–45% and the coefficient of friction within limits of 3–35%.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 9(297), pp. 56–61, September, 1987.     

Gallium-induced magnesium enrichment on grain boundary and the gallium effect on degradation of tensile properties of aluminum alloys

By applying a controlled amount of gallium (3 mg or 5 mg) to double-notched samples, the effects of the gallium on the grain boundary chemistry and tensile properties of AA6061-T4 alloy were investigated. Commercial-purity aluminum AA1050 was used for comparison to determine whether alloying elements would correlate with Ga-induced embrittlement and to elucidate the physical reason that governed the occurrence of intergranular fracture in the AA6061 Al-Mg-Si alloy. The AA6061 and AA1050 samples wetted by 3 mg or 5 mg of Ga were held statically for 7 days before tensile tests were conducted. The 6061 Al-Mg-Si samples with gallium were fractured intergranularly. However, the Ga-treated AA1050 samples had a mixed fracture mode, showing better strength and ductility than the Ga-treated AA6061 alloy, independent of whether the samples had their longitudinal axis parallel or perpendicular to the rolling direction, or the holding temperatures before tensile tests. Auger electron spectroscopy scanning the intergranular facets on fracture surfaces showed that the Auger peak-to-peak ratio I_Ga/I_Al of 6061 samples was similar to that of 1050 samples, but the high intensity of Mg signal was detected from the intergranular fracture surface of the AA6061 alloy. Magnesium being induced by Ga to enrich on the grain boundary and free surface of the AA6061 alloy was confirmed. The intergranular embrittlement of the 6061 T4 Al-Mg-Si alloy wetted by small amount of Ga involves the combination of the following two effects: Ga metal on grain boundary embrittlement, and Ga-induced magnesium enrichment on grain boundary that further decreases the strength of the grain boundary.