In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to study the effects of synbiotic supplementation on Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (SE) proliferation, cecal content load, and broiler carcass ...contamination. Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Pediococcus acidilactici culture supernatants decreased (P < 0.05) the in vitro proliferation of SE at 1:1 supernatant: pathogen dilution. A total of 240 Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to three treatment groups (8 replicates/group with 10 birds/replicate): control (basal diet), antibiotic (Virginiamycin at 20 mg/kg feed), synbiotic (PoultryStar® ME at 0.5 g/kg feed containing L. reuteri, E. faecium, B. animalis, P. acidilactici and a Fructooligosaccharide) from day of hatch. At 21 d of age, all birds in experimental groups were orally inoculated with 250 μl of 1 X 109 CFU SE. Antibiotic supplementation increased (P < 0.05) body weight and feed consumption, compared to the control group. Birds in the synbiotic supplementation had intermediate body weight and feed consumption that were not significantly different from both the control and antibiotic group at 42 d of age in SE infected birds. No significant effects were observed in feed efficiency at 42 d of age among the groups. Antibiotic and synbiotic supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) SE load in cecal contents by 0.90 and 0.85 log units/ g and carcass SE load by 1.4 and 1.5 log units/mL of rinsate compared to the control group at 42 d of age (21 dpi). The relative abundance of IL-10, IL-1, TLR-4, and IFNγ mRNA was decreased (P < 0.05) in the antibiotic and synbiotic supplementation groups compared to the control birds at 42 d of age (21 dpi). It can be concluded that synbiotic supplementation decreased SE proliferation in vitro and decreased SE load in the cecal contents and broiler carcass.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This is the second in a series of papers studying the astrophysics and cosmology of massive, dynamically relaxed galaxy clusters. The data set employed here consists of Chandra observations of 40 ...such clusters, identified in a comprehensive search of the Chandra archive for hot (kT ... 5 keV), massive, morphologically relaxed systems, as well as high-quality weak gravitational lensing data for a subset of these clusters. Here we present cosmological constraints from measurements of the gas mass fraction, ..., for this cluster sample. By incorporating a robust gravitational lensing calibration of the X-ray mass estimates, and restricting our measurements to the most self-similar and accurately measured regions of clusters, we significantly reduce systematic uncertainties compared to previous work. Our data for the first time constrain the intrinsic scatter in fgas, 7.4 ± 2.3 per cent in a spherical shell at radii 0.8-1.2 ... (~1/4 of the virial radius), consistent with the expected level of variation in gas depletion and non-thermal pressure for relaxed clusters. From the lowest redshift data in our sample, five clusters at z < 0.16, we obtain a constraint on a combination of the Hubble parameter and cosmic baryon fraction, ... = 0.089 ± 0.012, that is insensitive to the nature of dark energy. Combining this with standard priors on h and ... provides a tight constraint on the cosmic matter density, ... = 0.27 ± 0.04, which is similarly insensitive to dark energy. Using the entire cluster sample, extending to z > 1, we obtain consistent results for ... and interesting constraints on dark energy: ... for non-flat ...CDM (cosmological constant) models, and w = -0.98 ± 0.26 for flat models with a constant dark energy equation of state. Our results are both competitive and consistent with those from recent cosmic microwave background, Type Ia supernova and baryon acoustic oscillation data. We present constraints on more complex models of evolving dark energy from the combination of fgas data with these external data sets, and comment on the possibilities for improved fgas constraints using current and next-generation X-ray observatories and lensing data. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
This is the fourth in a series of papers studying the astrophysics and cosmology of massive, dynamically relaxed galaxy clusters. Here, we use measurements of weak gravitational lensing from the ...Weighing the Giants project to calibrate Chandra X-ray measurements of total mass that rely on the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. This comparison of X-ray and lensing masses measures the combined bias of X-ray hydrostatic masses from both astrophysical and instrumental sources. While we cannot disentangle the two sources of bias, only the combined bias is relevant for calibrating cosmological measurements using relaxed clusters. Assuming a fixed cosmology, and within a characteristic radius (r
2500) determined from the X-ray data, we measure a lensing to X-ray mass ratio of 0.96 ± 9 per cent (stat) ± 9 per cent (sys). We find no significant trends of this ratio with mass, redshift or the morphological indicators used to select the sample. Our results imply that any departures from hydrostatic equilibrium at these radii are offset by calibration errors of comparable magnitude, with large departures of tens-of-percent unlikely. In addition, we find a mean concentration of the sample measured from lensing data of
$c_{200} = 3.0_{-1.8}^{+4.4}$
. Anticipated short-term improvements in lensing systematics, and a modest expansion of the relaxed lensing sample, can easily increase the measurement precision by 30–50 per cent, leading to similar improvements in cosmological constraints that employ X-ray hydrostatic mass estimates, such as on Ωm from the cluster gas mass fraction.
We present a catalog of galaxy clusters selected via their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect signature from 2500 deg super(2) of South Pole Telescope (SPT) data. This work represents the complete sample ...of clusters detected at high significance in the 2500 deg super(2) SPT-SZ survey, which was completed in 2011. A total of 677 (409) cluster candidates are identified above a signal-to-noise threshold of xi = 4.5 (5.0). Ground- and space-based optical and near-infrared (NIR) imaging confirms overdensities of similarly colored galaxies in the direction of 516 (or 76%) of the xi > 4.5 candidates and 387 (or 95%) of the xi > 5 candidates; the measured purity is consistent with expectations from simulations. Of these confirmed clusters, 415 were first identified in SPT data, including 251 new discoveries reported in this work. We estimate photometric redshifts for all candidates with identified optical and/or NIR counterparts; we additionally report redshifts derived from spectroscopic observations for 141 of these systems. The mass threshold of the catalog is roughly independent of redshift above z ~ 0.25 leading to a sample of massive clusters that extends to high redshift. The median mass of the sample is M sub(500c)(rho sub(crit)) ~3.5 x 10 super(14) M sub(middot in circle) h super(-1) sub(70), the median redshift is z sub(med) = 0.55, and the highest-redshift systems are at z > 1.4. The combination of large redshift extent, clean selection, and high typical mass makes this cluster sample of particular interest for cosmological analyses and studies of cluster formation and evolution.
ABSTRACT We present cosmological parameter constraints obtained from galaxy clusters identified by their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect signature in the 2500 square-degree South Pole Telescope Sunyaev ...Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) survey. We consider the 377 cluster candidates identified at with a detection significance greater than five, corresponding to the 95% purity threshold for the survey. We compute constraints on cosmological models using the measured cluster abundance as a function of mass and redshift. We include additional constraints from multi-wavelength observations, including Chandra X-ray data for 82 clusters and a weak lensing-based prior on the normalization of the mass-observable scaling relations. Assuming a spatially flat ΛCDM cosmology, we combine the cluster data with a prior on H0 and find and , with the parameter combination . These results are in good agreement with constraints from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) from SPT, WMAP, and Planck, as well as with constraints from other cluster data sets. We also consider several extensions to ΛCDM, including models in which the equation of state of dark energy w, the species-summed neutrino mass, and/or the effective number of relativistic species ( ) are free parameters. When combined with constraints from the Planck CMB, H0, baryon acoustic oscillation, and SNe, adding the SPT cluster data improves the w constraint by 14%, to .
ABSTRACT We present a multiwavelength study of the 90 brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) in a sample of galaxy clusters selected via the Sunyaev Zel'dovich effect by the South Pole Telescope, ...utilizing data from various ground- and space-based facilities. We infer the star-formation rate (SFR) for the BCG in each cluster-based on the UV and IR continuum luminosity, as well as the O iiλλ3726,3729 emission line luminosity in cases where spectroscopy is available-and find seven systems with SFR > 100 M yr−1. We find that the BCG SFR exceeds 10 M yr−1 in 31 of 90 (34%) cases at 0.25 < z < 1.25, compared to ∼1%-5% at z ∼ 0 from the literature. At z 1, this fraction increases to %, implying a steady decrease in the BCG SFR over the past ∼9 Gyr. At low-z, we find that the specific SFR in BCGs is declining more slowly with time than for field or cluster galaxies, which is most likely due to the replenishing fuel from the cooling ICM in relaxed, cool core clusters. At z 0.6, the correlation between the cluster central entropy and BCG star formation-which is well established at z ∼ 0-is not present. Instead, we find that the most star-forming BCGs at high-z are found in the cores of dynamically unrelaxed clusters. We use data from the Hubble Space Telescope to investigate the rest-frame near-UV morphology of a subsample of the most star-forming BCGs, and find complex, highly asymmetric UV morphologies on scales as large as ∼50-60 kpc. The high fraction of star-forming BCGs hosted in unrelaxed, non-cool core clusters at early times suggests that the dominant mode of fueling star formation in BCGs may have recently transitioned from galaxy-galaxy interactions to ICM cooling.
We present a detection of the enhancement in the number densities of background galaxies induced from lensing magnification and use it to test the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect (SZE-) inferred masses in ...a sample of 19 galaxy clusters with median redshift z ≃ 0.42 selected from the South Pole Telescope SPT-SZ survey. These clusters are observed by the Megacam on the Magellan Clay Telescope though gri filters. Two background galaxy populations are selected for this study through their photometric colours; they have median redshifts z
median ≃ 0.9 (low-z background) and z
median ≃ 1.8 (high-z background). Stacking these populations, we detect the magnification bias effect at 3.3σ and 1.3σ for the low- and high-z backgrounds, respectively. We fit Navarro, Frenk and White models simultaneously to all observed magnification bias profiles to estimate the multiplicative factor η that describes the ratio of the weak lensing mass to the mass inferred from the SZE observable-mass relation. We further quantify systematic uncertainties in η resulting from the photometric noise and bias, the cluster galaxy contamination and the estimations of the background properties. The resulting η for the combined background populations with 1σ uncertainties is 0.83 ± 0.24(stat) ± 0.074(sys), indicating good consistency between the lensing and the SZE-inferred masses. We use our best-fitting η to predict the weak lensing shear profiles and compare these predictions with observations, showing agreement between the magnification and shear mass constraints. This work demonstrates the promise of using the magnification as a complementary method to estimate cluster masses in large surveys.
CONTEXT.— Alendronate sodium reduces fracture risk in
postmenopausal women who have vertebral fractures, but its effects on
fracture risk have not been studied for women without vertebral
fractures. ...OBJECTIVE.— To test the hypothesis that 4 years of
alendronate would decrease the risk of clinical and vertebral fractures
in women who have low bone mineral density (BMD) but no vertebral
fractures. DESIGN.— Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING.— Eleven community-based clinical research centers. SUBJECTS.— Women aged 54 to 81 years with a femoral neck BMD
of 0.68 g/cm2 or less (Hologic Inc, Waltham, Mass) but no
vertebral fracture; 4432 were randomized to alendronate or placebo and
4272 (96%) completed outcome measurements at the final visit (an
average of 4.2 years later). INTERVENTION.— All participants reporting calcium intakes of
1000 mg/d or less received a supplement containing 500 mg of calcium
and 250 IU of cholecalciferol. Subjects were randomly assigned to
either placebo or 5 mg/d of alendronate sodium for 2 years followed by
10 mg/d for the remainder of the trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES.— Clinical fractures confirmed
by x-ray reports, new vertebral deformities detected by morphometric
measurements on radiographs, and BMD measured by dual x-ray
absorptiometry. RESULTS.— Alendronate increased BMD at all sites studied
(P<.001) and reduced clinical fractures from 312 in the
placebo group to 272 in the intervention group, but not significantly
so (14% reduction; relative hazard RH, 0.86; 95% confidence
interval CI, 0.73-1.01). Alendronate reduced clinical fractures by
36% in women with baseline osteoporosis at the femoral neck (>2.5
SDs below the normal young adult mean; RH, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82;
treatment-control difference, 6.5%; number needed to treat NNT,
15), but there was no significant reduction among those with higher BMD
(RH, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.87-1.35). Alendronate decreased the risk of
radiographic vertebral fractures by 44% overall (relative risk, 0.56;
95% CI, 0.39-0.80; treatment-control difference, 1.7%; NNT, 60).
Alendronate did not increase the risk of gastrointestinal or other
adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS.— In women with low BMD but without vertebral
fractures, 4 years of alendronate safely increased BMD and decreased
the risk of first vertebral deformity. Alendronate significantly
reduced the risk of clinical fractures among women with osteoporosis
but not among women with higher BMD.
ABSTRACT
Two dietary sources of zinc (ZnSO4 or organic Zn) were tested in chickens challenged with coccidiosis (Co) or coccidiosis plus Clostridium perfringens (CoCPF). On day 14, the chickens were ...orally gavaged with ∼5,000 Eimeria maxima sporulated oocysts. On day 19, 20, and 21 chickens challenged with C. perfringens were given a broth culture containing 108 cfu of this bacterium. Productive performance parameters were determined at d 14, 21, and 28. On day 21, necrotic enteritis (NE) lesions were scored, and intestinal permeability was evaluated. Jejunum and cecal tonsils were collected for morphology and gene expression analysis. On day 21, organic Zn improved BW gain by 18.6% (P = 0.07), and FCR by 12% (P = 0.09) in CoCPF challenged chickens vs. birds fed ZnSO4. From 1 to 28, organic Zn increased BW gain (P = 0.02), and improved FCR (P = 0.03) vs. birds fed ZnSO4. At 21 d, NE lesions were only observed in CoCPF birds (P < 0.001), and mortality due to NE was only observed when CoCPF birds were fed ZnSO4 (P = 0.001). Organic Zn fed birds had increased villus height in the jejunum (P = 0.005) and decreased intestinal permeability (P = 0.01) vs. ZnSO4. In the jejunum, organic Zn fed birds showed a downregulation of expression of IL-8 (P = 0.02), and upregulation of IL-10 (P = 0.05) in CoCPF birds vs. ZnSO4- CoCPF birds. As main effect, birds supplemented with organic Zn had higher mRNA expression of TLR-2 (P = 0.02) and IgA (P = 0.01). In the cecal tonsils, organic Zn fed birds showed upregulation of iNOS (P = 0.008) in CoCPF birds vs. ZnSO4-CoCPF birds. Organic Zn supplementation reduced intestinal permeability and attenuated intestinal inflammation of broilers co-challenged with coccidia and C. perfringens.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP