Adverse effects of wide calcium:phosphorus ratios on supplemental phytase efficacy for weanling pigs fed two dietary phosphorus levels

Ninety-six weanling pigs (initial BW = 9.3 kg, initial age = 37 d) were used in a 4-wk experiment to evaluate the response to three Ca: total (t) P ratios (1.2:1, 1.6:1, or 2.0:1) fed in combination with two P levels (.07 or .16% available that correspond to .36 or .45% tP) and two phytase levels (PY; 700 or 1,050 units/kg of diet). A 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was employed using a corn-soybean meal diet. Performance, serum mineral concentrations and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Ca and P digestibility and excretion, and bone mechanical measurements were examined. Average daily gain (P < .001), average daily feed intake (P < .01), and gain:feed (P < .05) were decreased linearly as the Ca:tP ratio became wider. The digestibility of P and Ca were decreased (P < .001) linearly as the Ca:tP ratio became wider. The digestibility of P (P < .001) and fecal P excretion (P < .01) were increased at the higher level of P. Increasing PY from 700 to 1,050 units (U)/kg of diet increased (P < .05) P digestibility and decreased (P < .01) P excretion but did not improve bone measurements. Shear force, stress and energy, and percentage of ash of both metacarpal and 10th rib linearly decreased (P < .001 to .05) as the Ca:tP ratio became wider, and bone measurements were generally greater for pigs fed the higher P level. Serum Ca concentration increased (P < .01) and the P concentration decreased (P < .001) as the Ca:tP ratio increased, but Mg, Zn, and ALP activity were not influenced by the Ca:tP ratio. Serum Ca and P concentrations were affected by PY supplementation over the 4-wk trial, but serum Mg and Zn concentrations were not affected by dietary treatments. Adverse effects of a wide Ca:tP ratio were greater at the low P diet for all responses. In addition, the activity of supplemental PY in diets seemed to be decreased as the Ca:tP ratio became wider and this negative effect of Ca:tP ratio seemed greater at the low P level, and seemed to parallel the effects of Ca:tP ratio on performance, P digestibility, bone, and serum measurements. Narrowing the dietary Ca:total P ratio from 2.0:1 to 1.2:1 led to an approximate 16% increase in phytase efficacy for improving performance, digestibility, bone measurements, and serum Ca levels.     

Criteria for good adjustment to chronic hemodialysis: Nurse-patient differences.

Examined nurse–patient agreement on behaviors and attitudes associated with patient adjustment to chronic hemodialysis treatment. 164 hemodialysis nurses and 79 chronic hemodialysis outpatients completed a patient adjustment to dialysis inventory consisting of 43 behaviors and attitudes reported by nurses in earlier research to be important for adjustment to chronic hemodialysis. Results show that over 60% of nurses and patients showed sufficient agreement on the importance of 33 of 43 behaviors and attitudes for patient adjustment in the areas of compliance with the medical regimen, involvement in treatment, patient–staff interactions, and psychological and social functioning. Nurses and patients disagreed as to whether 9 behaviors and attitudes were at least important, while agreeing that only 1 item was irrelevant. Results also show that significantly more patients than nurses rated 25 out of 43 behaviors and attitudes as crucial. Approximately 50% of these related to interacting with staff, family, and friends. It is suggested that social and psychological criteria for adjustment to hemodialysis treatment should be defined by nurses and patients together. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Set size, novelty, and visual pop-out in infancy.

The effects of set size and novelty on visual pop-out in 6-month-old infants was assessed in a perceptual-identification (memory reactivation) paradigm in which infants, trained and tested in their own homes, viewed a mobile containing a unique novel or familiar object amidst different numbers of familiar or novel distractors, respectively. Unique objects of both types popped out at all set sizes except the largest, where there was modest evidence that familiar distractors speeded processing (Experiment 1). When the proportion of familiar targets in a display of intermediate set size was increased, however, infants no longer detected the familiar target (Experiment 2). These findings offer additional support for the proposition that visual pop-out in infants and adults is the same phenomenon. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productivity and ergonomic investigation of bent-handle pliers

Awkward wrist posture is generally considered an occupational risk factor for hand/wrist disorders, leading to the ergonomic design principle of "bend the tool, not the wrist." Sixteen participants performed a computer jumper installation task and a simple assembly task while productivity, wrist posture, and shoulder posture were measured. The work surface orientation (vertical and 45 degrees) and the level of constraint placed on the user (constrained grip and unconstrained grip) were also varied. The results indicate that the beneficial effects of the bent-handle pliers are task dependent. In the computer jumper task the bent-handle pliers resulted in 5.3% faster task performance, whereas in the assembly task performance was 4.9% faster with the straight-handle pliers. The bent-handle pliers reduced shoulder deviations by 50% in the jumper installation task, and ulnar deviation was reduced by 12% and 22% for the jumper installation task and the assembly task, respectively (all significant at p < .05). However, allowing participants to hold the pliers in a grip configuration of their choosing (unconstrained technique) often reduced these postural benefits. In applying these results to workplace design activities, one should recognize that the ergonomic utility of bent-handle pliers can be considerable but that the 3-D kinematics characteristics of the task must be considered.     

A novel method for the reduction of numbers of Listeria monocytogenes cells by freezing in combination with an essential oil in bacteriological media

The use of multiple freeze (-20 degrees C)-thaw cycles in combination with isoeugenol and polysorbate 80 was investigated as a method for the reduction of numbers of Listeria monocytogenes cells in a bacteriological medium. Three freeze (1 h, -20 degrees C)-thaw cycles in the presence of isoeugenol at concentrations of 0, 100, and 300 ppm resulted in average L. monocytogenes reductions of 0.69, 2.65, and 3.3 log10 MPN (most probable number) per ml, respectively. Increasing the number of freeze-thaw cycles further decreased cell numbers, with reductions of nearly 5 log10 MPN/ml being obtained with six freeze-thaw cycles. Freeze-thaw cycles were effective in reducing cell numbers at isoeugenol concentrations down to 25 ppm. Rapid freezing rates with liquid nitrogen were found to be less effective in reducing numbers of L. monocytogenes cells. Two rapid freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of 100 ppm isoeugenol and polysorbate 80 resulted in a reduction of 1.45 log10 MPN/ml. Two freezing (-20 degrees C) cycles involving slow freezing and thawing rates with samples being held frozen for 6 h for each cycle resulted in reductions larger than those obtained with faster freezing rates. It was found that complete thawing in freeze-thaw cycles was not necessary to achieve bactericidal action. The application of multiple freeze-thaw cycles in combination with low concentrations of isoeugenol could effectively reduce numbers of L. monocytogenes cells in bacteriological media.     

变化中的SoC设计流程

身处市场领先地位的SoC（系统单芯片）设计团队认为，“惯常的业务”已不复重现，强大的技术与商务力量（似乎独立于EDA供应商的路线图），都在将SoC设计方法重新塑造为新的形式，并与仅仅几年前的最佳实践有非常大的差异。     

Binge drinking among female veterans affairs patients: Prevalence and associated risks.

This study evaluated the prevalence and associated risks of binge drinking, defined as having ≥4 drinks on an occasion in the past year, in a female patient population. Of 1,259 female Veterans Affairs patients surveyed, 780 reported drinking alcohol in the past year, and 305 (24% of respondents, 39% of drinkers) reported binge drinking in the past year; 84 (11% of drinkers) had done so monthly or more often. Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses indicated that women who reported past-year binge drinking monthly or more often reported significantly increased odds of morning drinking (odds ratio [OR]?=?40.3), others worrying about their drinking (OR?=?38.6), arguments after drinking (OR?=?13.5), hepatitis or cirrhosis (OR?=?3. 1), frequent injuries (OR?=?2.6), smoking (OR?=?3.7), drug use (OR?=?22.2), and multiple sexual partners (OR?=?4.6). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)