Further studies on the influence of genotype and dietary protein on the performance of broilers

An experiment was conducted to quantify genetic differences in response to dietary protein level of male vs female broilers. Broilers (1 d old) from a "high-yield" strain cross (Ross x Ross 208) and a "fast-growing" strain cross (Peterson x Arbor Acres) were placed on fresh pine shavings in floor pens. From Day 0 to 18, all birds were fed a 23% CP starter diet. During Days 18 to 53 male birds were fed either a 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, or 26% CP diet (3,200 kcal ME/kg) and female birds were fed the 16, 20, or 24% CP diet. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were noted in the performance of the different strains. Ross x Ross 208 male birds had a higher body weight (3.37 vs 3.16 kg), higher feed intake (7.08 vs 6.78 kg), higher breast yield (31.76 vs 29.25%), higher carcass yield (73.90 vs 71.85%), and a lower adjusted feed conversion ratio (FCR; 2.10 vs 2.16 g:g) than Peterson x Arbor Acres males at 53 d of age. As compared to Peterson x Arbor Acres females, Ross x Ross 208 female broilers also had a higher body weight (2.68 vs 2.55 kg), higher breast meat yield (33.61 vs 30.80%), higher carcass yield (75.31 vs 73.91%), and lower adjusted FCR (1.97 vs 2.04 g:g). Qualitative differences in the response of these strains were confirmed and better qualitative data is presented that can be used to predict the important output parameters from the import inputs in broiler production.     

High-spatial-resolution distributed strain measurement in optical fiber with rayleigh scatter

A method of measuring strain over 30-cm intervals to an accuracy of10 microstrain in unaltered low-loss communications-grade single-modeoptical fiber is presented. The method uses a tunable external cavity diode laser to measure the reflected intensity of a reflector-fiber system as a function of wavelength. This measurement is performed with no strain applied to the fiber to produce a reference and then again after a strain has been induced. Cross correlation of the Rayleigh scatter spectra from a selected section of fiber in the strained and unstrained states determines the spectral shift resulting from the applied strain.     

Hamstrings and psoas lengths during normal and crouch gait: implications for muscle-tendon surgery

OBJECTIVE: To study the relative contribution of the lung and the chest wall on the total respiratory system mechanics, gas exchange, and work of breathing in sedated-paralyzed normal subjects and morbidly obese patients, in the postoperative period. SETTING: Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. METHODS: In ten normal subjects (normal) and ten morbidly obese patients (obese), we partitioned the total respiratory mechanics (rs) into its lung (L) and chest wall (w) components using the esophageal balloon technique together with airway occlusion technique, during constant flow inflation. We measured, after abdominal surgery, static respiratory system compliance (Cst,rs), lung compliance (Cst,L), chest wall compliance (Cst,w), total lung (Rmax,L) and chest wall (Rmax,w) resistance. Rmax,L includes airway (Rmin,L) and "additional" lung resistance (DR,L). DR,L represents the component due to viscoelastic phenomena of the lung tissue and time constant inequalities (pendelluft). Functional residual capacity (FRC) was measured by helium dilution technique. RESULTS: We found that morbidly obese patients compared with normal subjects are characterized by the following: (1) reduced Cst,rs (p < 0.01), due to lower Cst,L (55.3 +/- 15.3 mL x cm H2O-1 vs 106.6 +/- 31.7 mL x cm H2O-1; p < 0.01) and Cst,w (112.4 +/- 47.4 mL x cm H2O-1 vs 190.7 +/- 45.1 mL x cm H2O-1; p < 0.01); (2) increased Rmin,L (4.7 +/- 3.1 mL x cm H2O x L-1 x s; vs 1.0 +/- 0.8 mL x cm H2O x L-1 x s; p < 0.01) and DR,L (4.9 +/- 2.6 mL x cm H2O x L-1 x s; vs 1.5 +/- 0.8 mL x cm H2O x L-1 x s; p < 0.01); (3) reduced FRC (0.665 +/- 0.191 L vs 1.691 +/- 0.325 L; p < 0.01); (4) increased work performed to inflate both the lung (0.91 +/- 0.25 J/L vs 0.34 +/- 0.08 J/L; p < 0.01) and the chest wall (0.39 +/- 0.13 J/L vs 0.18 +/- 0.04 J/L; p < 0.01); and (5) a reduced pulmonary oxygenation index (PaO2/PAO2 ratio). CONCLUSION: Sedated-paralyzed morbidly obese patients, compared with normal subjects, are characterized by marked derangements in lung and chest wall mechanics and reduced lung volume after abdominal surgery. These alterations may account for impaired arterial oxygenation in the postoperative period.     

Conformations and folding of lysozyme ions in vacuo

Proton transfer reactivity of isolated charge states of the protein hen egg-white lysozyme shows that multiple distinct conformations of this protein are stable in the gas phase. The reactivities of the 9+ and 10+ charge state ions, formed by electrospray ionization of "native" (disulfide-intact) and "denatured" (disulfide-reduced) solutions, are consistent with values calculated for ions in their crystal structure and fully denatured conformations, respectively. Charge states below 8+ of both forms, formed by proton stripping, have similar or indistinguishable reactivities, indicating that the disulfide-reduced ions fold in the gas phase to a more compact conformation.     

A simulation-based scheduling system for real-time optimization and decision making support

This paper presents an industrial application of simulation-based optimization (SBO) in the scheduling and real-time rescheduling of a complex machining line in an automotive manufacturer in Sweden. Apart from generating schedules that are robust and adaptive, the scheduler must be able to carry out rescheduling in real time in order to cope with the system uncertainty effectively. A real-time scheduling system is therefore needed to support not only the work of the production planner but also the operators on the shop floor by re-generating feasible schedules when required. This paper describes such a real-time scheduling system, which is in essence a SBO system integrated with the shop floor database system. The scheduling system, called OPTIMISE scheduling system (OSS), uses real-time data from the production line and sends back expert suggestions directly to the operators through Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The user interface helps in generating new schedules and enables the users to easily monitor the production progress through visualization of production status and allows them to forecast and display target performance measures. Initial results from this industrial application have shown that such a novel scheduling system can help both in improving the line throughput efficiently and simultaneously supporting real-time decision making.     

Accurate labeling of the light-actinide O(4,5) edges

In this short article, the accurate labeling of the O(4,5) edges of the light actinides is addressed. The O4 and O5 edges are both contained in what is termed the 'giant resonance' and the smaller 'pre-peak' that is observed is a consequence of first-order perturbation by the 5d spin-orbit interaction on the 5d,5f exchange splitting. Thus, the small pre-peak in the actinide 5d-->5f transition should not be labeled the O5 peak, but rather the deltaS = 1 peak.     

Identification of two distinct properties of class II major histocompatibility complex-associated peptides

We have examined the interactions of various peptides with the mouse class II major histocompatibility complex molecule I-Ak. The peptides were derived from the model protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). The immunodominant peptide of HEL is a 10-mer, residues 52-61. Our previous work established that this sequence contains the key residues for binding and presentation to T cells. Now we show that the binding of this 10-mer sequence resulted in complexes of I-Ak and peptide that, in SDS/PAGE (without boiling the protein), rapidly dissociated from the component alpha and beta chains. The binding interactions were studied in vitro, by incubating purified I-Ak and radiolabeled peptide, or ex vivo, by using antigen-presenting cells incubated with peptides. Peptides with additional residues at either the amino or carboxyl terminus behaved dramatically differently. Complexes of I-Ak with the longer peptides were stable to SDS/PAGE. Very few amino acid additions result in the change from unstable to stable complexes. The important issue here is that when cultured with HEL, antigen-presenting cells selected the HEL peptides containing the 52-61 sequences that favored stability [Nelson, C. A., Roof, R. W., McCourt, D. W. & Unanue, E. R. (1992) Proc. Natl., Acad. Sci. USA 89, 7380-7383]. Also, from other studies, such sequences correlate with a high immunogenicity of the peptide. We conclude that there are structural features of peptides that change the stability of the class II molecule and that are independent of the "core" peptide seen by the T cells.     

Discrimination or favoritism? Sex bias in book reviews.

Studied 180 reviews of books written by male, female, or male and female authors to investigate sex bias. Half the books had been reviewed by males, half by females. Each review was rated separately for positive and negative elements. For positive elements, there was a significant interaction between author's and reviewer's sex: same-sex books were more favorably evaluated than other-sex books, while books of mixed authorship fell in between. There was no comparable interaction for negative elements. Reviewers of both sexes tended to find more negative elements in books by male than by female authors. It is concluded that unlike in studies employing hypothetical situations, in real-life settings each sex is biased in favor of itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)