Understanding factors that influence the composition of microbial populations of the digestive system of dairy cattle will be key in regulating these populations to improve animal performance. ...Although rumen microbes are well studied, little is known of the dynamics and role of microbial populations in the small intestine of cows. Comparisons of fingerprints of microbial populations were used to investigate the effects of gastrointestinal (GI) segment and animal on community structure. Samples from four lactating dairy cows with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulae were collected. Terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) comparisons of small subunit rRNA genes revealed differences in microbial populations between GI segments (P < 0·05). No significant differences in either methanogen populations or microbial community profiles between animals were observed. Quantitative PCR was used to assay relative changes in methanogen numbers compared to procaryote rRNA gene numbers, and direct microscopic counts were used to enumerate total procaryote numbers of the duodenal and ileal samples. T-RFLP comparisons illustrate significant changes in microbial diversity as digesta passes from one segment to another. Direct counts indicate that microbial numbers are reduced by eight orders of magnitude from the rumen, through the abomasum, and into the duodenum (from c. 10¹² to c. 3·6 x 10⁴ cells per ml). Quantitative PCR analyses of rRNA genes indicate that methanogens are present in the duodenum and ileum. The contribution of microbial populations of the small intestine to the nutrition and health of cattle is seldom addressed but warrants further investigation.
The fracture behavior of 8Mn steel at −196°C has been investigated by a comparison with that of 9Ni steel. 8Mn steel fails by a mixture of cleavage and intergranular fracture, in contrast to 9Ni ...steel, which shows cleavage fracture when impact tested at −196°C. This shows that intergranular fracture in 8Mn steel is not due to the segregation of solutes, including Mn, reducing the grain boundary strength, but to the higher strength of the matrix compared to that of the grain boundary.
Continual, historical, and precise information about the land use and land cover (LULC) changes of the Earth’s surface is extremely important for any kind of sustainable development program, in which ...LULC serves as one of the major input criteria. In this study, a supervised classification was applied to four Landsat images collected over time (1984, 1999, 2005, and 2009) that provided recent and historical LULC conditions for the western Nile delta. The supervised classification results were further improved by employing image enhancement and visual interpretation. Visual interpretation was not only useful in increasing the classification accuracy of the Landsat images, but it was also helpful in identifying areas with the effective use of water for irrigation and areas of private land reclamation. Five LULC categories were identified and mapped. Post-classification comparisons of the classified images indicated that the major change consisted of barren land changing into agricultural land. Approximately 28%, 14%, and 9% of barren land was changed to agricultural land in the periods 1984–1999, 1999–2005, and 2005–2009, respectively. In addition to these LULC changes, evidence of land degradation processes was observed, which were mainly due to human activities, such as the formation of quarries, free water bodies and Sabkhas (a specific type of land cover found on drylands and salt-affected soils). Based on the identified causes of these changes, we made policy recommendations for better management of LULC.
► Provided recent and historical land use/cover (LULC) maps for the western Nile delta of Egypt using the integration of supervised maximum likelihood classification and visual interpretation of remote sensing data. ► Identified the long-term trend of LULC changes through tracking changes from multi-temporal Landsat images using post-classification comparison. ► Determined the causes of the changes through spatial comparison of produced LULC maps. ► Provided policy recommendations regarding appropriate improvements towards a better management of LULC. ► Identified locations facilitating effective use of water irrigation and private land reclamation.
There are a few reports regarding the outcome evaluation of balloon-expandable intracranial stent placement (BEICS). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the outcome and factors related to the ...adverse events (AEs) of BEICS.
We evaluated 100 consecutive patients who underwent BEICS. We assessed the procedural success (residual stenosis < 50%), AEs (minor strokes, major strokes, and death), clinical outcome, and restenosis (> 50%) at 6 months. We also analyzed 18 factors including symptom patterns related to AE rate. Symptom patterns revealed 1) stable patients (n = 73) with improving, stationary, or resolved symptoms; and 2) unstable patients (n = 27) with gradual worsening or fluctuating symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale NIHSS > or = 4) within 2 days before stent placement.
The procedural success rate was 99%. Overall, there were 10 (10%) AEs within the 6 months: 4 (4%) minor strokes, 3 (3%) major strokes, and 3 (3%) deaths including a death from myocardial infarction. AE rate was 4.1% in stable and 25.9% in unstable patients. Restenosis at 6 months revealed 0% (0/59). Good outcome (modified Rankin Scale < or = 2) at 6 months was 97% (71/73) in stable and 67% (18/27) in unstable patients. Stepwise logistic regression model revealed that symptom pattern (unstable versus stable) was the only significant risk factor (OR, 8.167; 95% CI, 1.933-34.500; P = .004).
BEICS revealed a low AE and good outcome rate at 6 months, especially in the stable patients. Midterm outcome was also favorable in the unstable patient group.
The present study aims to develop a novel cross-corrugated primary surface for an intercooler in an aero-engine. Cross-corrugated primary surface heat exchangers are proposed for such applications ...due to their relatively high “volume goodness” and thus the potential for light weight designs. In the present study, modified primary surface geometries were analyzed using three-dimensional numerical simulation. The fully developed airflow in a cross-corrugated matrix unit cell was modeled with a low-Reynolds number k–ε turbulence model using steady incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The numerical approach was validated against experimental data for conventional cross-corrugated surfaces. The calculated pressure drop and heat transfer capacity of the novel surfaces were assessed in terms of the Fanning friction factor and Nusselt number while the overall performance was estimated using the volume and area goodness factors. Finally, the investigation on the pressure loss mechanism was achieved through a simplified analysis of the entropy generation.
Aim To evaluate recurrence rate and associated risk factors for recurrence after ethanol ablation (EA) in patients with predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Materials and methods This observational ...study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institutional Review Board and informed consent for procedures was obtained. From April 2009 to April 2013, 107 consecutive patients with predominantly cystic nodules were treated using EA. Recurrence was defined as nodules showing a residual solid portion with internal vascularity, cosmetic problems remaining, or persistent symptoms, and patients who requested additional therapy to resolve their symptomatic or cosmetic problems. Delayed recurrence was defined as treated nodules that showed no recurrent features at 1 month, but showed newly developed recurrent features during the longer follow-up period. Multivariate analysis was used for variables to demonstrate the independent factors related to volume reduction. Results One month after EA, 18.7% of patients (20/107) showed recurrence. Among 87 patients with non-recurrence, 24.1% (21/87) showed delayed recurrence. The total recurrence rate was 38.3% (41/107). Patients with recurrence ( n = 41) were treated using radiofrequency ablation ( n = 28), second EA ( n = 4), and refused further treatment ( n = 9). These patients responded well to repeat EA and radiofrequency ablation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the initial nodule volume (>20 ml; p < 0.036) and vascularity (grade >1; p < 0.049) were independent predictors of volume reduction at last follow-up. Conclusions The results revealed that although EA seemed to be effective during the initial period, delayed recurrence should be considered during longer-term follow-up. The independent predictors of recurrence were initial volume (>20 ml) and vascularity.
Holstein calves were fed pelleted iso-starch (25% of starter dry matter) diets containing barley (n=16), corn (n=16), oat (n=16), and wheat (n=16) starch for 12 wk of age. Feed consumption, nutrient ...intake, body weight (BW) gain, skeletal growth, and selected blood metabolites in calves during preweaning (d 1 to 49) and postweaning (d 50 to 84) periods were measured. Average daily starter consumption during pre-weaning and postweaning periods was the greatest in calves fed corn died followed by those fed a wheat diet and then in those fed barley and oat diets. During the preweaning period, the calves provided corn and wheat diets consumed greater amount of mixed grass hay than those fed barley and oat diets. During the postweaning period, mixed grass hay intake was the greatest in calves provided corn diet followed by those fed a wheat diet and then in those fed barley and oat diets. Nutrients (dry matter, crude protein, starch, and neutral detergent fiber) intake followed the solid feed consumption pattern in calves. Body weight and body measurements (body length, body barrel, heart girth, wither height, and hip height) at birth and at weaning (d 49) in calves fed different starch sources were similar. Body weight and body measurements at postweaning (d 84) were the greatest in calves fed a corn diet followed by those fed a wheat diet and then in those fed barley and oat diets. Overall average BW gain and total dry matter intake were the greatest in calves fed a corn diet than in those fed wheat, barley, and oat diets. Feed efficiency was greater in calves fed corn and wheat diets than in those fed barley and oat diets. Blood glucose, blood urea N, triglycerides, cholesterol, and creatinine were reduced with the advancing age of calves. Lesser blood glucose and greater blood urea N concentrations at wk 8, 10, and 12 of age were noticed in calves fed corn diet than in those fed barley, oat, and wheat diets. Occurrence of diarrhea was more frequent in calves fed oat diet than in those provided barley, corn, and wheat diets. Starch sources did not influence respiratory score, rectal temperature, and general appearance score. In conclusion, the calves on corn diet consumed more solid feed and gained greater BW than those fed barley, oat, and wheat diets.
The advanced molybdenum-based rare process experiment (AMoRE) aims to search for neutrinoless double beta decay (
0
ν
β
β
) of
100
Mo with
∼
100
kg
of
100
Mo-enriched molybdenum embedded in cryogenic ...detectors with a dual heat and light readout. At the current, pilot stage of the AMoRE project we employ six calcium molybdate crystals with a total mass of 1.9 kg, produced from
48
Ca-depleted calcium and
100
Mo-enriched molybdenum (
48
depl
Ca
100
MoO
4
). The simultaneous detection of heat (phonon) and scintillation (photon) signals is realized with high resolution metallic magnetic calorimeter sensors that operate at milli-Kelvin temperatures. This stage of the project is carried out in the Yangyang underground laboratory at a depth of 700 m. We report first results from the AMoRE-Pilot
0
ν
β
β
search with a 111 kg day live exposure of
48
depl
Ca
100
MoO
4
crystals. No evidence for
0
ν
β
β
decay of
100
Mo is found, and a upper limit is set for the half-life of
0
ν
β
β
of
100
Mo of
T
1
/
2
0
ν
>
9.5
×
10
22
years
at 90% C.L. This limit corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass limit in the range
⟨
m
β
β
⟩
≤
(
1.2
-
2.1
)
eV
.
The effect of the preparation method of the catalytic inks on the electrode structure and, thus, on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was investigated. Since the ...catalytic inks, which are a mixture of Pt/C powders, solvent, and ionomers, change into one of the three states: (i) solution; (ii) colloids and (iii) precipitates, according to the interaction between the ionomers and solvents, two different catalytic inks have been prepared for comparison, the solution inks based on
iso-propyl alcohol (IPA) and the colloidal inks based on normal butyl acetate. Performance evaluation, electrochemical analyses, and physical property examination revealed that the electrode prepared by a colloidal method showed better results compared to those of the solution method. The former appeared to secure continuity of the ionomer network and higher porosity in the catalytic layer, resulting in higher proton conductivity and less mass transfer resistance.
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