bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of processing at harvest and cutting height of urea-treated whole-crop wheat on performance and digestibility in dairy cows
Authors: Jackson M. A. , Readman R. J. , Huntington J. A. , Sinclair L. A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractUrea-treated whole-crop wheat harvested at growth stage (GS) 87 that was either unprocessed (U) or processed (P) by the forage harvester, and cut at one of two heights to produce a long straw (L), or short straw (S) forage, was offered to 44 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows for 14 weeks according to a 2 ✕ 2 factorial design. Whole-crop wheat (WCW) was mixed 2: 1 on a dry-matter (DM) basis with grass silage and all animals received 8·5 kg/day of concentrate and 2 kg/day of rapeseed meal. Increasing the cutting height at harvest increased the starch content in the forage from an average of 356 to 419 g/kg DM and decreased neutral-detergent fibre levels from 422 to 337 g/kg DM. Forage intake (grass silage and WCW) was higher in cows given the unprocessed compared with the processed forages (13·7 v. 12·5 kg DM per day for treatments U v. P respectively; P < 0·05) and tended (P < 0·08) to be higher in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages. Neither processing, nor alteration of cutting height, had a significant effect on milk yield (kg/day). However, milk fat content decreased (P < 0·05) with increasing cutting height (41·9 v. 37·0 g/kg for the main effects of L v. S respectively) whilst body condition score was lower (P < 0·05) in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages (2·6 v. 2·8 respectively). Plasma glucose levels were higher (P < 0·05) in animals receiving the short compared with long straw forages (3·52 v. 3·34 mmol/l respectively) whereas β-hydroxybutyrate decreased (P < 0·01) with increased cutting height. The average digestibility of starch in the total ration was higher (P < 0·001) in cows given the processed compared with the unprocessed WCW (0·96 v. 0·88 respectively). Assuming a constant apparent digestibility of starch in the other food components resulted in a WCW starch apparent digestibility of 0·87, 0·97, 0·80 and 0·96 for forages LU, LP, SU and SP respectively (P < 0·001). The results indicate that processing at harvest significantly increased the digestibility of starch in WCW and that cows responded to this higher nutrient content by decreasing forage intake. Increasing the cutting height at harvest decreased milk fat content (g/kg) and yield (kg/day) and increased body condition score.
Housing system and welfare of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cows
Authors: Tripaldi C. , De Rosa G. , Grasso F. , Terzano G. M. , Napolitano F. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTwenty-eight buffalo cows were used to evaluate the effect of housing system on a range of behavioural and physiological variables. Fourteen cows were group-housed in a loose open-sided barn with a concrete floor and 10 m2 per head as space allowance (group IS). Fourteen others were group-housed in a similar barn but they could also benefit from an outdoor yard with 500 m2 per head as space allowance, free access to potholes for wallowing and spontaneous vegetation (group TS). Animals were subjected to six sessions of instantaneous scan sampling at 10-day intervals. Behavioural variables were expressed as proportions of subjects observed in each category of posture and activity. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was used to perform a skin test based on non-specific delayed type hypersensitivity, whereas 20 mg of ovalbumin were injected subcutaneously to evaluate humoral immune response. Blood samples for evaluation of cortisol concentration were collected immediately prior to exogenous porcine ACTH injection and 1, 2 and 4 h after. The metabolic status of the animals and milk production were also monitored. The proportion of idling animals was higher in group IS than in group TS (P < 0.001). More IS buffalo cows were observed eating at the manger than TS animals (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of TS animals were observed in the sun (P < 0.001). Grazing and bathing activities were recorded only for TS animals. Our findings suggest that buffalo cows kept in intensive conditions and having no access to ample yards and potholes may extend their periods of idling with negative effects on the state of welfare. Immune responses, metabolite concentrations and milk production were not affected by treatment, whereas cortisol levels were higher in IS animals (P < 0.05). The provision of a housing system similar to natural conditions was able to improve the welfare of buffalo cows as indicated by the expression of some species-specific natural behaviours. Such conditions were also associated with lower adrenal cortex response to ACTH injection, possibly as a consequence of the higher degree of initiative allowed to TS cows.
The effect of rearing regime on the development of the mammary gland and claw abnormalities in high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian dairy herd replacements
Authors: Carson A. F. , Dawson L. E. R. , Wylie A. R. G. , Gordon F. J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOne hundred and eight high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian heifers were used to determine the effects of rearing regime on the development of the mammary gland and claw abnormalities. Heifers were allocated to one of four rearing regimes at 7 weeks of age and slaughtered at 18 (s.d.0.7) months of age; mating commenced at 14 months of age. Treatment 1 heifers were reared to calve at 540 kg and treatments 2, 3 and 4 heifers reared to calve at 620 kg. Treatment 1 and 2 heifers were offered grass silage-based diets during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer; treatment 2 heifers received additional concentrates. Treatment 3 heifers were offered a straw/concentrate diet during the winter and a grass-based diet during the summer. Treatment 4 heifers received the same winter diets as treatment 3 but were housed and offered a straw/concentrate diet in summer. Increasing plane of nutrition increased the weight of dissected udder fat (P < 0.01), but had no effect on the weight or chemical composition of dissected udder parenchyma. Offering straw- compared with silage-based diets reduced fat deposition in the udder (P < 0.01) and increased the proportion of parenchyma in the udder (P < 0.01). Keeping heifers housed during the first summer and offering straw-based diets relative to those turned out to grass had no effect on weight of fat although there was a tendency towards a reduction in the proportion of parenchyma in the udder (P < 0.06). Heifers reared on a low plane of nutrition had lower values for heel height (P < 0.001), lateral claw length (P < 0.001) and heel erosion scores (P < 0.01). A higher plane of nutrition also increased live weight/sole area although this was only significantly higher for treatment 3 (P < 0.05) compared with treatment 1 heifers. Housing heifers in the first summer increased the incidence of feet lesions in the white line area and solear area relative to turning heifers out to grass in the first summer (P < 0.05).
Diurnal variation in concentrations of various markers of bone metabolism in growing female goats and sheep
Authors: Liesegang A. , Sassi M.-L. , Risteli J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTwelve 6-month-old growing female goats and sheep were used in this study. Blood samples were obtained in the morning before goats and sheep were given food and then at 2-h intervals for 24 h (part I). This procedure was repeated 2 weeks later (part II). Concentrations of osteocalcin (OC), activities of total (tAP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bAP), degradation products of C-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (CrossLaps™ CL), and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (ICTP) were measured in serum.In both parts of the study, all bone marker concentrations were significantly higher in goats than in sheep. The OC concentrations in goats increased in the late afternoon/evening and decreased thereafter to reach values similar to those obtained at the beginning. The ICTP concentrations in goats slowly decreased until 14:00 h, increased, and decreased again. The concentrations in sheep decreased continuously but not significantly, towards the morning sampling. The CL concentrations increased in both sheep and goats during the night but at 06:00 h started to decrease to levels found at the beginning of testing. The bAP activities decreased in goats from 20:00 to 22:00 h. Changes in the concentrations of bone markers were mainly observed in goats of this study. As documented for bone resorption and formation in other species, circadian rhythms were evident for concentrations of ICTP, CL, bAP and OC. The present study indicates that growing goats may have a physiologically higher bone turn-over than growing sheep, because the bone marker concentrations were always higher.
Effect of concentrate finishing on the carotenoid content of perirenal fat in grazing sheep: its significance for discriminating grass-fed, concentrate-fed and concentrate-finished grazing lambs
Authors: Prache S. , Priolo A. , Grolier P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCarotenoid pigments are good biomarkers of grass-feeding in sheep. However, as grazing lambs may be concentrate-finished, we investigated the effect of concentrate finishing after grazing on the carotenoid concentration of fat in sheep, and its significance for discriminating lamb production systems. In experiment 1 with 32 lambs, four feeding treatments were compared: G = grazing, C = feeding a concentrate-based diet, GSC = short concentrate-finishing period after grazing, and GLC = long concentrate-finishing period after grazing. The concentrate supply was regulated to have similar average daily gain for all treatments. In experiment 2, 42 ewes were given a low carotenoid diet after pasture feeding, for 0, 8, 22, 42, 84 or 126 days. The feeding level was adjusted to maintain body weight and body condition score. The nature and concentration of carotenoids was analysed by HPLC on diets and lambs’ perirenal fat. The reflectance spectrum of perirenal fat was measured at slaughter. Lutein was the only carotenoid in lamb fat. In experiment 1, the intensity of light absorption by lutein was linearly related with its concentration in the fat (P < 0·001) and was negatively correlated with the duration of the finishing period. The design of experiment 2 avoided the confounding effect of fat gain during the finishing period and examined the effect of the duration of this period by itself. There was no effect of stall-feeding duration on the intensity of light absorption by carotenoids in the fat in experiment 2, demonstrating that the effect of stall-feeding duration in fattening lambs was mediated via a dilution of existing fat with whiter fat rather than through pigments coming out of the fat. The concentration of lutein and the intensity of its light absorption in the fat decreased with lamb body-weight gain during the finishing period (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 respectively) and increased with plasma carotenoid content at the end of the grazing period (P < 0·001). Because of the inter-individual variability in carotenoid absorption, the use of the reflectance spectrum of the fat alone may cause some concentrate finished grazing lambs to be classified as C lambs shortly after the beginning of the stall-feeding period, whereas others may be considered as G lambs for a long period of time. However, the combined use of plasma carotenoid content at slaughter together with the reflectance spectrum of the fat improves reliability in the discrimination of grass-fed, concentrate-fed and concentrate-finished grazing lambs, by taking advantage of the differences in the rate of reduction in carotenoid concentration in blood and fat.
Characterization of the microbial and biochemical profile of the different segments of the digestive tract in horses given two distinct diets
Authors: Fombelle A. de , Varloud M. , Goachet A.-G. , Jacotot E. , Philippeau C. , Drogoul C. , Julliand V. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA first group of three horses was given diet 1 (D1) allowing 1180 g per 100 kg body weight (BW) of a pelleted food rich in fibre (P1) and 556 g per 100 kg BW of straw during a 20-day period to allow for adaptation. A second group of four horses were given diet 2 (D2) allowing 1180 g per 100 kg BW of a pelleted food rich in cereals (P2) and 1000 g per 100 kg BW of meadow hay during the same period. Digesta was collected from the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon, and small colon, and faeces were collected under general anaesthesia 2·5 h after the ingestion of the morning pelleted meal. The concentration of total anaerobic, cellulolytic and lactic acid-utilizing bacteria, lactobacilli and streptococci were determined in all these segments except for the duodenum, left ventral colon, right dorsal colon and small colon. D-/L-lactic acid, volatile fatty acids and pH were measured in all anatomic segments of the digestive tract (from stomach to small colon). The caecal concentration of total anaerobic bacteria was the lowest (7·9 5 107colony-forming units (c f. u.) per ml), whereas that of the stomach was the highest (1·4 5 109c f. u. per ml) (P< 0·001). Cellulolytic bacteria did not exceed 3·0 5 102c f u. per ml in the ante-caecal segments whereas in the hindgut the average concentration was 5·3 x 105c f u. per ml (P< 0·001). Likewise, VFA concentrations were also greater in the large intestine (on average, 96·3 mmol/l v. 8·8 mmol/l in the ante-caecal segments) (P< 0·001), confirming the limited extent of fibre degradation in these ante-caecal segments. Lactobacilli, streptococci and lactate-utilizing bacteria colonized all the digestive tract; the stomach and the small intestine tended to host the greatest numbers of these bacteria, which suggests a high interference of micro-organisms with the digestion of readily fermentable carbohydrates. Compared with the other ante-caecal segments, the stomach ecosystem seemed the most affected by the composition of the last pelleted meal ingested: the concentrations of lactobacilli and lactate-utilizing bacteria were higher (P< 0·05) with P2. The lower concentration of D-/L-lactate with P2 (P< 0·05) was concomitant with a greater proportion of propionate (P< 0·05), probably related to a greater fermentation of lactate. In the large intestine of horses given D2, cellulolytic bacteria tended to be lower, whereas VFA concentrations were higher (P < 0·05). The lower [NDF/starch] ratio of D2 was probably less propitious for the proliferation of cellulolytic bacteria but was compensated by the higher cellulose intake brought by the hay.
The ability of the n-alkane technique to estimate intake and diet choice of sheep
Authors: Lewis R.M. , Magadlela A.M. , Jessop N.S. , Emmans G.C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis study assessed the efficacy of the n-alkane technique to estimate intake and diet composition in animals given single foods or a choice of two. In the first experiment intakes of pelleted ryegrass and lucerne, given either alone or as a choice, were measured in lambs housed indoors in individual pens. Each of the three feeding treatments was given to 12 lambs at two degrees of maturity (0·30 and 0·45 of estimated mature sizes). The 12 lambs were constituted as three replicates of the two sexes of each of two breeds. The measured intakes were compared with those estimated using the n-alkanes C31and C33, found naturally in the foods, and C32, which was given as a dose. On the choice treatment diet composition was estimated using a non-negative least squares procedure and data on C31and C33alone. The agreement between actual and predicted intake was good:R2of 0·938 for log-linear regression with a residual standard deviation of 0·0845. Intake of lucerne when offered alone was slightly yet significantly over-predicted. The proportion of ryegrass in the diet was also accurately predicted (R2of 0·950 and residual s.d. of 0·0398). Using the data on C27and C29, in addition to that on C31and C33, gave a poorer agreement with the observed diet compositions. The low and similar levels of C27in the two foods meant that this n-alkane provided little extra information that could be used to estimate diet composition. In a second experiment faecal samples were collected every 4 hours over a 24-h period in six lambs on ad libitum, and in six lambs on a restricted quantity, of pelleted ryegrass. There was no significant diurnal variation in the ratios of either C31or C33to C32on either ad libitum or restricted feeding. The time of faecal collection within a day should not therefore affect the reliability of the predictions. The study confirmed the value of using n-alkanes in methods to determine the intake of forages by sheep, and that the time of faecal collection within the day does not affect the reliability of these predictions. The results also confirm the utility of the n-alkane method for estimating diet choice, at least with two-component mixtures.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT J. SHILLER
Authors: Campbell John Y. 
Published: May 2019

A recent article in The Economist magazine divided economists into “poets” and “plumbers,” the former articulating radical new visions of the field and the latter patiently installing the infrastructure needed to implement those visions. Bob Shiller is the rare economist who is both poet and plumber. Not only that, he is also entrepreneur and pundit. His work has fundamentally changed the theory, econometrics, practice, and popular understanding of finance.Starting in the late 1970's, Bob boldly challenged the prevailing orthodoxy of financial economics. He showed that financial asset prices often deviate substantially from the levels predicted by simple efficient-markets models, and he developed new empirical methods to measure these price deviations. In the early 1980's, Bob went on to argue that economists need a much more detailed understanding of investor psychology if they are to understand asset price movements. He pioneered the emerging field of behavioral economics and its most successful branch, behavioral finance. At the end of the century, Bob articulated his vision of finance in a wildly successful popular book,Irrational Exuberance. He became so well known that TIAA-CREF asked him to appear in a series of full-page advertisements in the popular press.Although Bob does not believe that investors use financial markets in a perfectly rational manner, he does believe that these markets offer great possibilities to improve the human condition. His recent work asks how existing financial markets can be used, and new financial markets can be designed, to improve the sharing of risks across groups of people in different regions, countries, and occupations. He has explored risk-sharing possibilities not only in journal articles, but also in business ventures and a 2003 book,The New Financial Order: Risk in the 21st Century.It was a great privilege for me to interview Bob Shiller. Bob's arrival at Yale when I was a Ph.D. student there set the course of my career as an economist. Bob reinvigorated the Yale tradition of macroeconomics, with its emphasis on the central role of financial markets in the macroeconomy and its idealism about the possibility of improving macroeconomic outcomes. First as a thesis adviser, then as a coauthor, mentor, and friend, Bob showed me how to contribute to this tradition.The interview took place at the 2003 annual meetings of the Allied Social Science Associations in Washington, D.C. We met in a hotel suite, ate a room service meal, and had the enjoyable conversation that is reproduced below.
Rapid Determination of the Distribution of Cellulose Nanomaterial Aggregates in Composites Enabled by Multi-Channel Spectral Confocal Microscopy
Authors: Johns Marcus A. , Lewandowska Anna E. , Eichhorn Stephen J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThere is increased interest in the use of cellulose nanomaterials for the mechanical reinforcement of composites due to their high stiffness and strength. However, challenges remain in accurately determining their distribution within composite microstructures. We report the use of a range of techniques used to image aggregates of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) greater than 10 µm2 within a model thermoplastic polymer. While Raman imaging accurately determines CNC aggregate size, it requires extended periods of analysis and the limited observable area results in poor reproducibility. In contrast, staining the CNCs with a fluorophore enables rapid acquisition with high reproducibility, but overestimates the aggregate size as CNC content increases. Multi-channel spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy is presented as an alternative technique that combines the accuracy of Raman imaging with the speed and reproducibility of conventional confocal laser scanning microscopy, enabling the rapid determination of CNC aggregate distribution within composites.
A chart review, pilot study of two single-item screens to detect
cancer patients at risk for cachexia
Authors: KIRSH, KENNETH L. , DUGAN CHRISTINE , THEOBALD DALE E. , PASSIK STEVEN D. 
Published: May 2019

Objective: Cachexia is a problematic wasting syndrome
experienced by some cancer patients that can lead to early death in
these patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine the
criterion validity and sensitivity and specificity of two single items
from a depression scale to rapidly screen patients in ambulatory
oncology clinics for cancer-related nutritional risk and cachexia.Methods: A chart review was conducted of 50 randomly
selected patient profiles. Patients' responses to item 5 (“I
eat as much as I used to”) and item 7 (“I notice I am
losing weight”) of the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS)
were compared against the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global
Assessment (PG-SGA) as well as to Body Mass Index (BMI) scores and
weight at two time periods.Results: Item 5 of the ZSDS was significantly related to
initial weight (F3,45 = 6.06, p <
0.001), weight at 6-month follow-up (F3,27 = 4.16,
p < 0.05), BMI score (F3,46 = 2.89,
p < 0.05), and nutritional risk on the PG-SGA
(F3,45 = 5.80, p < 0.01). Item 7 of the
ZSDS was only a significant predictor of nutritional risk as measured
by the PG-SGA (F3,46 = 6.01, p < 0.01).
When the two items were combined to form a two-item scale, it
maintained the individual items' significant relationship to the
PG-SGA (F1,48 = 13.99, p < 0.001).
Using this as the criterion for identifying nutritionally at-risk
patients, the two-item screen yields a sensitivity of 50% and
specificity of 88%.Significance of the research: It is concluded that a single
item or a combination of two items can yield a reliable initial screen
for identifying patients who might be at nutritional risk for the
development of cachexia. Further study is needed in prospective trials
to further explore the utility of these items.