A new directed evolution method was used to enhance the thermostability of the wild-type GH11 xylanase 2 (known as BD-11) from Hypocrea jecorina (Trichoderma reesei). Both Look-Through Mutagenesis ...(LTM™), which is a method for rapidly screening selected positions in the protein sequence for amino acids that introduce favorable properties, and Combinatorial Beneficial Mutagenesis (CBM™), which is a method for identifying the best ensemble of individual mutations, were employed to enhance the stability of an enzyme that has been thoroughly engineered by various means during the past 20 years. A diverse set of novel mutations was discovered, including N71D, Y73G, T95G and Y96Q. When these mutations were combined into a single construct (Hjx-81), the purified protein was active even after heating at 100°C for 20 min. This time-effective method should be generally applicable for quickly improving the physico-chemical properties of other industrial and therapeutic enzymes in only several months time.
Lepton pairs emerging from decays of virtual photons represent promising probes of matter under extreme conditions. In the energy domain of 1 - 2 GeV per nucleon, the HADES experiment at GSI ...Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt studies di-electrons and strangeness production in various reactions, i.e. collisions of pions, protons, deuterons, heavy-ions, and nuceous with nuclei. An accurate determination of the medium radiation depends on a precise knowledge of the underlying hadronic cocktail composed of various sources contributing to the net spectra. Therefore, a measurement of the neutral meson yields together with the dileptons is crucial. In this contribution, the capability of HADES to detect e+e− pairs from conversion of real photons will be demonstrated. We will present results from a two-photon analysis of Au+Au collisions at 1.23 GeV u providing information on neutral π0 and η mesons.
The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of feed conditioning prior to pelleting and extrusion processing on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), gain to feed ...(G:F) and coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) in nursery pigs and broiler chickens. The mash, based on wheat, fishmeal and soybean meal, was subjected to 4 heat treatments (hydro-thermal processing) giving Diet 1: unconditioned mash as control (mash); Diet 2: low-temperature steam conditioning before pelleting (STP47); Diet 3: high-temperature steam conditioning before pelleting (STP90); Diet 4: expander conditioning before pelleting (EXP); and Diet 5: extruder processing (EXT). Nursery pigs (average body weight of 5.6kg) were used in a 36-d experiment. The results showed that hydro-thermal processing improved G:F in nursery pigs (P=0.006) compared to the mash. The G:F was also improved for pigs fed the EXT diet compared to the EXP diet (P=0.030). The CTTAD of dry matter was greater in pigs fed the hydro-thermal processed diets compared to the mash (P=0.018), and in pigs fed the STP47 compared to the STP90 (P=0.001). The CTTAD of organic matter was improved for pigs fed STP47 and STP90 diets compared to the EXP and EXT diets (P=0.010), and for the STP47 compared to the STP90 diets (P=0.001). The CTTAD of protein (P=0.004) and energy (P=0.001) was greatest in pigs fed the STP47 compared to the STP90. Starch digestibility was improved in pigs fed the EXT compared to the EXP diet (P=0.041). Broiler chickens (1-d old, average body weight of 41g) were used in a 21-d experiment. The ADFI and ADG were greater (P<0.05) for broiler chickens fed the STP47 and the STP90 diets compared to those fed the EXP and the EXT diets. The EXP diet improved ADG (P=0.015) and ADFI (P=0.003) compared to the EXT diet. Starch digestibility was greater in broiler chickens fed the hydro-thermal processed diets compared to the mash (P=0.023). In conclusion, hydro-thermal processing, in particular extruder processing, improved G:F for nursery pigs due to improved digestibility. For broiler chickens, all hydro-thermal processing increased starch digestibility, but due to reduced feed intake of the expanded and in particular the extruded diets, only steam conditioning before pelleting improved growth rate and feed utilisation.
Background
In order to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), including changes in antimicrobial prescribing and use, an enhanced understanding is needed of the barriers that veterinary surgeons ...(vets) encounter to institute such change.
Methods
A qualitative approach, using grounded theory, was followed. Interviews and discussion groups, with vets and farm industry stakeholders in Northern Ireland (NI), were undertaken to identify and explore attitudes and behaviours surrounding AMS, with a particular emphasis on the barriers vets encountered and the context within which they were working.
Results
Seven inter‐related themes associated with improving AMS among their sheep farming clients were identified. The first six addressed barriers were working under commercial and practical constraints, farmer behaviour, multiple medicine sources, poor prescribing practice, a perceived lack of incentive or facilitation to improve AMS and a perceived lack of action by regulators to challenge poor AMS. The seventh theme revealed suggestions vets considered that may improve AMS in NI, including greater state intervention in recording and regulating medicine sales.
Conclusions
Improving AMS will require vets and their client farmers to change behaviour. This will involve concerted effort over an extended period of time to enact and embed change. Veterinary surgeons believe that further action by the industry and state to develop centralised antimicrobial sales recording and by the state to enforce prescribing regulations will aid their efforts. However, critical to achieving this is the development of a sustainable and funded mechanism to create more meaningful farmer–vet consultation around flock health prior to every prescription to improve AMS and sheep welfare.
Background
Management of pain is critical to improve the welfare of farmed livestock and meet consumer expectations. There is limited published information about the use of analgesic drugs in the ...sheep sector.
Methods
A mixed‐method approach was followed. The range of analgesic drugs used on 52 Northern Irish sheep farms was determined through analysis of medicine purchase records. Through interview and discussion groups, with both farmer and veterinarian participants, attitudes towards the use and adoption of such medicines were explored.
Results
The use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was widespread and highly variable. One‐third of farmers in the sample did not purchase any NSAID. Meloxicam was the most commonly purchased NSAID by mass (72%) and standardised dose (73%). During interviews and discussions, farmers outlined the benefits they saw in using NSAIDs and how veterinarians influenced their uptake of these medicines. Use of corticosteroid was evidenced on 50% of the farms that supplied medicine records for analysis.
Conclusions
Veterinarians can influence farmers to adopt NSAIDs for the provision of analgesia in their sheep and farmers observed the benefits they delivered. However, many farmers are still to be reached with this message, perhaps due to being largely self‐sufficient and rarely engaging with veterinarians. Veterinarians have the opportunity to challenge farmers about the provision of analgesia, especially when farmers seek antibiotics for painful conditions such as lameness. Currently, the lack of an authorised product in the UK, with associated treatment guidance and industry promotion, may limit veterinarians’ confidence in prescribing drugs for pain control in sheep.
Lepton pairs emerging from decays of virtual photons are one of the most promising probes of dense hadronic matter. The HADES experiment at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt ...studies dielectron radiation as well as strangeness production in various reactions, i.e. proton, deuteron and heavy-ion. The understanding of the corresponding experimental results calls for supporting studies from various model calculations. For a more model independent understanding of the dilepton cocktail the production cross sections of particles created during the freeze-out is crucial. In this contribution we will present results from a two photon analysis of Au+Au in 1.23 GeV/u collisions providing information on π0 and η mesons. Therefore the capability of HADES to detect e+e− pairs from external conversion of real photons will be explained and first results will be shown.
Lepton pairs emerging from decays of virtual photons are one of the most promising probes of dense hadronic matter. The HADES experiment at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt ...studies dielectron radiation as well as strangeness production in various reactions, i.e. proton, deuteron and heavy-ion. The understanding of the corresponding experimental results calls for supporting studies from various model calculations. For a more model independent understanding of the dilepton cocktail the production cross sections of particles created during the freeze-out is crucial. In this contribution we will present results from a two photon analysis of Au+Au in 1.23 GeV/u collisions providing information on pi super(0) and eta mesons. Therefore the capability of HADES to detect e super(+)e super(-) pairs from external conversion of real photons will be explained and first results will be shown.
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