bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Echogenic foci in the dilated fetal colon may be associated with the presence of a rectourinary fistula
Authors: Pohl‐Schickinger A. , Henrich W. , Degenhardt P. , Bassir C. , Hüseman D. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIntraintestinal meconium calcification in the fetus and newborn is a rare finding, occurring in patients with intestinal obstruction. The intraluminal location of the enterolithiasis enables differentiation from calcifications that are secondary to bowel perforation and meconium peritonitis. We report on a term male neonate with VACTERL (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, cardiac anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, limb anomalies) association and rectourethral fistula, in whom enterolithiasis was documented by prenatal ultrasound imaging at 21 weeks' gestation. A review of the literature and a summary of all previously described cases of neonates with intraluminal meconium calcifications are provided. Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of enterolithiasis in fetuses with anal atresia may indicate the presence of an enterourinary fistula. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Site-controlled quantum dots fabricated using an atomic-force microscope assisted technique
Authors: Song HZ , Usuki T , Ohshima T , Sakuma Y , Kawabe M , Okada Y , Takemoto K , Miyazawa T , Hirose S , Nakata Y , Takatsu M , Yokoyama N 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
An atomic-force microscope assisted technique is developed to control the position and size of self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Presently, the site precision is as good as ± 1.5 nm and the size fluctuation is within ± 5% with the minimum controllable lateral diameter of 20 nm. With the ability of producing tightly packed and differently sized QDs, sophisticated QD arrays can be controllably fabricated for the application in quantum computing. The optical quality of such site-controlled QDs is found comparable to some conventionally self-assembled semiconductor QDs. The single dot photoluminescence of site-controlled InAs/InP QDs is studied in detail, presenting the prospect to utilize them in quantum communication as precisely controlled single photon emitters working at telecommunication bands.
Rapid and Direct Quantitative RT‐PCR Method To Measure Promoter Activity
Authors: Yu Lei , Domann Frederick E. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThis Note describes a novel rapid and direct quantitative method for examining the activity of genetic response elements. This method will provide an alternative to the classically used “reporter gene” activity assays. We show that a transfected genetic cis‐regulatory element that responds to the transcription factor p53 gives a quantitative read‐out at the RNA level that parallels that of an endogenous p53 responsive gene, p21 waf1'cip1. The correlation between the endogenous p21 gene expression in response to p53 and the transfected cis element is remarkable. This method is more direct and potentially faster than traditional promoter‐reporter assays.
Choice of grass or maize silages by lactating dairy cows: influence of supplementary protein, concentrate level and milk yield
Authors: Habib M. , Syed J.S. , Leaver J.D. 
Published: August 2006

AbstratPreference testing of two foods provides a means of assessing the relative value an animal places on the foods. Two experiments examined the relative choice of grass and maize silages by lactating dairy cows, and investigated whether protein supplementation, concentrate level or milk yield level of cow influenced this choice. In experiment 1, 16 cows including eight high (30 kg/day) and eight low (17 kg/day) yielding (milk level, ML) cows were offered a low (171 g/kg dry matter (DM)) or a high (300 g/kg DM) crude protein (CP) concentrate in eight 2×2 Latin squares. In experiment 2, four cows were offered a low (112 g/kg DM) or a high (334 g/kg DM) CP content of concentrate at a low (3·5 kg/day) or high (7 kg/day) concentrate level (CL) in a 4×4 Latin-square design.CP of concentrate did not influence the proportion of grass silage to maize silage eaten in either experiment. Also, neither ML of cows (experiment 1) nor CL (experiment 2) affected proportions of the two silages eaten. The mean proportions selected were 0·88:0·12 and 0·52:0·48 for grass and maize silages in experiments 1 and 2 respectively, which reflected differences between experiments in the digestibilities of the silages, and indicated that digestibility may be an important factor influencing the choice of silages.The CP, CL and ML treatments produced significant responses in silage and total DM intakes. Feeding behaviour studies showed the responses to CP were associated with differences in meal size, which is a function of duration of each meal and rate of intake. The number of meals taken per day was similar for all treatments and averaged 8·0 and 8·1 for experiments 1 and 2 respectively.It was concluded that whilst lactating cows modified their feeding behaviour in response to the diets available, there was no evidence they modified the proportions of the two silages selected in order to meet a target protein content in the total diet. It would appear therefore that other factors, of which digestibility may be important, have a higher priority in choice.
Links between specialization in the finishing of bulls, mixing, farmers' attitudes towards animals and the production of finishing bulls: a survey on French farms
Authors: Mounier L. , Colson S. , Roux M. , Dubroeucq H. , Boissy A. , Ingrand S. , Veissier I. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIn France, beef bulls are finished by breeder-finishers who produce calves and then fatten them, or by specialized finishers who fatten bulls that they buy. According to previous results on both dairy cows and pigs, breeding on the farm promotes positive attitudes of farmers towards animals, which can lead to improved animal health and growth. The mixing of bulls on their arrival at a specialized unit could stress them and thus impair health and growth. We hypothesized that breeder-finishers have more positive attitudes towards bulls and their work with bulls than specialized finishers, and that positive attitudes lead to better production, whereas mixing may be counterproductive. We observed 1038 bulls (67 groups) finished by breeder-finishers or specialized finishers in mixed and unmixed groups. Using a questionnaire, we assessed farmers' beliefs about the sensitivities of bulls, their attitude towards contacts with bulls, their beliefs about successful factors in finishing, and job satisfaction. We recorded the number of clinical signs and weight gain of the bulls. Specialized finishers tended to have more negative contacts with bulls than breeder-finishers (P=0·06). Poor health of bulls was associated with (i) a positive attitude towards gentle contacts with bulls (P<0·01), (ii) job satisfaction (P=0·01), and (iii) was negatively correlated to beliefs in bulls being difficult animals (P=0·09). Fast growth of bulls was associated with job satisfaction (P<0·01). Unmixed bulls grew faster than mixed bulls (P=0·05). We conclude that in finishing bulls, it is production results that have an impact on attitudes, rather than the opposite: the need for close contacts with bulls resulting from health problems engenders more positive attitudes of farmers towards their animals, and good production results increase job satisfaction. Variations in production results between breeder-finishers and specialized finishers seem to lie more in the fact that the latter always use animals mixed at the beginning of the finishing period - with mixing impairing growth - than in the attitudes of farmers towards animals and their work.
Interleukin-1ra increases growth performance and body protein accretion and decreases the cytokine response in a model of subclinical disease in growing pigs
Authors: Dionissopoulos L. , Dewey C.E. , Namkung H. , De Lange C.F.M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThere is a growing body of evidence to suggest direct involvement of the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the initiation of skeletal muscle catabolism and depressions in growth performance as a result of diseases, while TNF-α and IL-6 are presumably under the control of IL-1. An experiment was conducted to investigate whether an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) could reduce growth depressions in a model of subclinical disease in growing pigs. In this study, 24 crossbred barrows and gilts were randomly assigned to three treatments: (1) healthy control (HC), saline infusion; (2) sick control (SC), infection withMycoplasma hyopneumoniaeand vaccination with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome modified live virus (PRRSV) vaccine and saline infusion; (3) SC plus infusion with IL-1ra (SC+IL-1ra). An additional six pigs were killed at the initiation of the trial to determine initial body composition for estimation of carcass nutrient retention rates. During the 28-day experimental period, the SC pigs had growth performance similar to that of the HC pigs and the highest levels of plasma cytokines (P<0·10). The SC+IL-1ra pigs had growth performance similar to the HC pigs, but the SC+Il-1ra pigs tended to have higher growth rates than the SC pigs (P<0·10), the highest carcass protein accretion rate (P<0·10) and similar levels of plasma cytokines compared with the HC pigs. Plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on day 22 tended to be higher (P<0·10) in the HC pigs compared with the SC or SC+IL-1ra pigs and treatment×sex interaction was observed on day 29; the IGF-1 levels tended to be higher in SC+IL-1ra gilts and SC barrows (P<0·10). These results indicate that infusion with IL-1ra in a model of subclinical disease helps attenuate the catabolic effects of immune system stimulation.
Use of a partial least-squares regression model to predict test day of milk, fat and protein yields in dairy goats
Authors: Macciotta N.P.P. , Dimauro C. , Bacciu N. , Fresi P. , Cappio-Borlino A. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractA model able to predict missing test day data for milk, fat and protein yields on the basis of few recorded tests was proposed, based on the partial least squares (PLS) regression technique, a multivariate method that is able to solve problems related to high collinearity among predictors. A data set of 1731 lactations of Sarda breed dairy Goats was split into two data sets, one for model estimation and the other for the evaluation of PLS prediction capability. Eight scenarios of simplified recording schemes for fat and protein yields were simulated. Correlations among predicted and observed test day yields were quite high (from 0·50 to 0·88 and from 0·53 to 0·96 for fat and protein yields, respectively, in the different scenarios). Results highlight great flexibility and accuracy of this multivariate technique.
Trends in milk production, calving rate and survival of cows in 14 Irish dairy herds as a result of the introgression of Holstein-Friesian genes
Authors: Evans R. D. , Dillon P. , Buckley F. , Berry D. P. , Wallace M. , Ducrocq V. , Garrick D. J. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractTrends in milk production, calving rates, and survival were monitored on a potential 5580 primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows across 14 Irish seasonal spring-calving dairy farms between the years 1990 and 2001. Over this period calving rate to first service (CALV1) reduced by 0·96% per year (55 to 44%;P< 0·001), calving rate to first and second service (CALV12) reduced by 0·84% per year ( 77 to 70%;P< 0·001) and herd average parity number reduced by 0·10 lactation per year (4·3 to 3·5;P<0·001). The proportion of North American Holstein Friesian (NAHF) genes in the cows increased by 5·5% per year (8 to 63%;P<0·001), while pedigree index for milk yield (PIMILK) of the cows increased by 25 kg per year (P<0·001). The predicted difference of the sires of the cows for calving interval and survival increased by 0·5 days (P<0·001) and reduced by 0·12% (P<0·001) per year, respectively. A negative association was found between increased phenotypic milk yield, NAHF and PIMILKand reduced calving rates as assessed by CALV1 and CALV12. Increased proportion of NAHF genes exhibited a negative effect on survival (P<0·001) whereas increased levels of heterosis had a positive impact on survival (P<0·001). The results of the present study indicate that in seasonal calving herds in Ireland a need for direct selection on traits related to fertility and survival is required to arrest and reverse the declining trends in calving rates and survival.
The effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian dairy cow and pasture-based system on grass intake and milk production
Authors: Horan B. , Faverdin P. , Delaby L. , Rath M. , Dillon P. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of strain of Holstein-Friesian cow, pasture-based feeding system (FS) and their interaction on milk production, dry matter (DM) intake and energy balance over 3 years consecutively. The three strains were: high milk production North American (HP), high fertility and survival (durability) North American (HD) and New Zealand (NZ). The FS were: a high grass allowance (HG FS), a high concentrate (HC FS) and a high stocking rate (HS FS). A separate farmlet existed for each FS and a total of 99, 117 and 117 animals were used in year 1, year 2 and year 3, respectively, divided equally between strains and FS. Individual animal intakes were estimated three times each year at pasture; in May (P1), in July (P2) and October (P3), corresponding on average to day 102, 177 and 240 of lactation, respectively. The HP cows achieved the highest milk yield, the NZ the lowest, while the HD was intermediate; the HP achieved the highest solid corrected milk yield with no difference between the NZ and HD strains. The grass DM intake of the HP strain was highest ( P<0·001) in all feeding systems. There was a significant strain×FS interaction for yield of milk, fat and protein, grass DM and total DM intake. The milk production response to the HC FS in P1 and P2 was significantly greater for both the HP and HD strains than for the NZ strain, while in P3 the response was highest for the HP, lowest for the NZ and intermediate for the HD. The reduction in pasture DM intake per kg of concentrate was greatest for the NZ strain, lowest for the HP and intermediate for the HD strain. The NZ strain also had the highest grass DM intake per kg live weight. The existence of strain×FS interactions for production and DM intake indicate that greater knowledge of both genotype and feeding environment is required to predict animal performance.
Pro-inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein responses to low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in pigs
Authors: Llamas Moya S. , Boyle L. , Lynch P. B. , Arkins S. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe objective of this study was to establish the pro-inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein responses to low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in pigs and to determine whether these immune parameters could also be measured in saliva. Possible gender differences in the acute phase reaction were also assessed. At 6 weeks of age, 24 male and 24 female pigs were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 0 or 5 μg/kg live weight (LW) of LPS fromEscherichia coli(treatment). Matched saliva and blood samples were taken at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 or 24 h after treatment administration. Samples were analysed for concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), the acute phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and cortisol. Low-dose LPS administration increased plasma levels of TNF-α (P<0·001), CRP (P<0·05) and SAA (P<0·05) but did not affect plasma concentrations of IL-1β or Hp (P>0·1). Treatment by time interactions showed that plasma levels of TNF-α and CRP in LPS-treated pigs peaked at 2 h (P<0·001) and 12 h (P<0·01), respectively. Low-dose LPS injection tended to increase plasma concentrations of cortisol (P=0·056) and the response to LPS differed between genders (P<0·05), with females showing higher cortisol responsiveness to the challenge (P<0·01). Males showed higher levels of both cytokines regardless of the treatment (P<0·05), probably due to the inhibition of cytokine synthesis by cortisol. Concentrations of both pro-inflammatory cytokines were consistently detectable in saliva and were present in higher concentrations than in plasma (P<0·001). Hence, plasma TNF-α, CRP and SAA are useful indicators of sub-acute inflammation/infection in pigs as simulated by a low-dose LPS challenge and gender differences exist in the pro-inflammatory cytokine response after a low dose of LPS.
Implementing cash for work programmes in post‐tsunami Aceh: experiences and lessons learned
Authors: Doocy Shannon , Gabriel Michael , Collins Sean , Robinson Courtland , Stevenson Peter 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCash for work (CFW) programmes are utilised in various disaster and emergency contexts and were a prominent component of the tsunami response in Aceh province, Indonesia. This paper describes Mercy Corps' CFW programme, discusses CFW implementation experiences and provides key recommendations for similar programmes in future emergencies. For the majority of CFW participants and their households, CFW was the only source of household income and 93 per cent of household incomes were attributable to it. The CFW programme empowered displaced populations to return to their communities; 91 per cent of participants indicated that CFW facilitated their return. Other reported psychosocial benefits included providing productive activities and giving communities an opportunity to work together. Mercy Corps' experience in Aceh demonstrates that cash disbursements can be safely delivered in a widespread manner in emergencies, and that when implemented on a short‐term basis, can have positive impacts at the individual and community level.
Tsunami mortality and displacement in Aceh province, Indonesia
Authors: Rofi Abdur , Doocy Shannon , Robinson Courtland 
Published: August 2006

AbstractA survey of 388 Indonesian households displaced by the December 2004 tsunami was conducted in Aceh province in February 2005. Of tsunami‐displaced households in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts, 61.8 per cent reported one or more family members as dead or missing1 due to the tsunami, with an overall mortality rate of 13.9 per cent (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.4–15.4). Risk of death was greatest in the youngest and oldest age groups, and among females. Overall, 36 per cent of tsunami‐displaced households indicated an intention to return to their original community within three months, and displaced households residing in host communities were 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2–2.8) times more likely to state an intention to return to their original villages or another community as those residing in camps. The tsunami recovery effort should focus on strategies that facilitate either prompt return or permanent, voluntary relocation for those displaced.
Proteomic and genetic approaches to identifying defence‐related proteins in rice challenged with the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: LEE JOOHYUN , BRICKER TERRY M. , LEFEVRE MICHAEL , PINSON SHANNON R. M. , OARD JAMES H. 
Published: August 2006

SUMMARYSheath blight, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, is a major disease of rice world‐wide, but little is known about the host response to infection. The objective of this study was to identify proteins and DNA markers in resistant and susceptible rice associated with response to infection by R. solani. Replicated two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments were conducted to detect proteins differentially expressed under inoculated and non‐inoculated conditions. Tandem mass spectra analysis using electrospray ionization quadrupole‐time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI Q‐TOF MS) was carried out for protein identification with the NCBI non‐redundant protein database. Seven proteins were increased after inoculation in both susceptible and resistant plants. Six of the seven proteins were identified with presumed antifungal, photosynthetic and proteolytic activities. An additional 14 proteins were detected in the response of the resistant line. Eleven of the 14 proteins were identified with presumed functions relating to antifungal activity, signal transduction, energy metabolism, photosynthesis, molecular chaperone, proteolysis and antioxidation. The induction of 3‐β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase was detected for the first time in resistant rice plants after pathogen challenge, suggesting a defensive role of this enzyme in rice against attack by R. solani. The chromosomal locations of four induced proteins were found to be in close physical proximity to genetic markers for sheath blight resistance in two genetic mapping populations. The proteomic and genetic results from this study indicate a complex response of rice to challenge by R. solani that involves simultaneous induction of proteins from multiple defence pathways.
Interactions between large African browsers and thorny Acacia on a wildlife ranch in Kenya
Authors: Milewski Antoni V. , Madden Derek 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSome plants respond to browsing with compensatory regrowth of plant tissues and with increased thorn growth. Associations between browsers and their preferred forage were examined through wandering quarter vegetation sampling and observational studies in an effort to understand how some plants respond to browsing by large African herbivores. Acacia seyal (n = 2680) A. drepanolobium (n = 1850), and Balanites glabra (n = 960) were three species of frequently browsed indigenous plants examined on Game Ranching Ltd. in Kenya. There were several statistically significant associations revealed. Individual A. seyal exposed to intensive browser utilization were observed to lose shoot tips, produce long thorns, and have relatively few flowers and fruits. Browser utilization was associated with increased lateral branching in A. drepanolobium and with an increased occurrence of short, thickened spines in B. glabra. Thorns, spines and flowers were measurable indicators of relative browser utilization, and may be useful features to monitor in the management of large African mammals and their prickly forage
Presentation and comments on EU legislation related to food industries – environment interactions and waste management
Authors: Arvanitoyannis Ioannis S. , Tserkezou Persefoni , Choreftaki Stefania 
Published: August 2006

SummaryAlthough environment remained for a long time at the very top of most advanced countries governments’ agenda priorities, and a series of protocols like Montreal (1987), Kyoto (2002), Conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and legislations (White and Green Paper, 2001 and 1996, respectively) were put forward among others, the global awareness towards the environment continues to be at a very low level. The main problem towards enforcing legislation is the high cost invoked by most industries and municipalities. However, recent advances in remediation, composting, recycling technology have shown that waste treatment can result in high added value products (i.e. biodiesel, fertiliser) and advantageous to the environment as well. European Union (EU) legislation is currently considered one of the well‐compiled and strict legislations compared with other advanced countries (USA, Canada and Japan). Although food industries are not included in the highly polluting ones, their great volume of waste materials generated, makes imperative their undertaking actions in this direction. This review aims at presenting all the EU laws (from the waste management perspective) in connection with the food industries and their interactions with the environment and vice versa.