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Background: Advance care planning (ACP) improves patient-provider communication and aligns care to patient values, preferences, and goals. Within a multisite Meta-network Learning and Research Center ACP study, one health system deployed an electronic health record (EHR) notification and algorithm to alert providers about patients potentially appropriate for ACP and the clinical study. Objective: The aim of the study is to describe the implementation and usage of an EHR notification for referring patients to an ACP study, evaluate the association of notifications with study referrals and engagement in ACP, and assess provider interactions with and perspectives on the notifications. Methods: A secondary analysis assessed provider usage and their response to the notification (eg, acknowledge, dismiss, or engage patient in ACP conversation and refer patient to the clinical study). We evaluated all patients identified by the EHR algorithm during the Meta-network Learning and Research Center ACP study. Descriptive statistics compared patients referred to the study to those who were not referred to the study. Health care utilization, hospice referrals, and mortality as well as documentation and billing for ACP and related legal documents are reported. We evaluated associations between notifications with provider actions (ie, referral to study, ACP not documentation, and ACP billing). Provider free-text comments in the notifications were summarized qualitatively. Providers were surveyed on their satisfaction with the notification. Results: Among the 2877 patients identified by the EHR algorithm over 20 months, 17,047 unique notifications were presented to 45 providers in 6 clinics, who then referred 290 (10%) patients. Providers had a median of 269 (IQR 65-552) total notifications, and patients had a median of 4 (IQR 2-8). Patients with more (over 5) notifications were less likely to be referred to the study than those with fewer notifications (57/1092, 5.2% vs 233/1785, 13.1%; P <.001). The most common free-text comment on the notification was lack of time. Providers who referred patients to the study were more likely to document ACP and submit ACP billing codes (P <.001). In the survey, 11 providers would recommend the notification (n=7, 64%); however, the notification impacted clinical workflow (n=9, 82%) and was difficult to navigate (n=6, 55%). Conclusions: An EHR notification can be implemented to remind providers to both perform ACP conversations and refer patients to a clinical study. There were diminishing returns after the fifth EHR notification where additional notifications did not lead to more trial referrals, ACP documentation, or ACP billing. Creation and optimization of EHR notifications for study referrals and ACP should consider the provider user, their workflow, and alert fatigue to improve implementation and adoption. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03577002; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03577002 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravenous insulin with glucose is used in urgent treatment for hyperkalemia but has a significant risk of hypoglycemia. The authors developed an order panel within the electronic health record system that utilizes weight-based insulin dosing and standardized blood glucose monitoring to reduce hypoglycemia. As initial evaluation of this protocol, the authors retrospectively compared potassium and blood glucose lowering in patients treated with the weight-based (0.1 units/kg) insulin order panel (n = 195) with those given insulin based on provider judgment (n = 69). Serum potassium lowering did not differ between groups and there was no relationship between dose of insulin and amount of potassium lowering. There was a difference in hypoglycemia rates between groups ( P = .049), with fewer severe hypoglycemic events in the panel (2.56%) than in the non-panel group (10.14%). These data suggest weight-based insulin dosing is equally effective for lowering serum potassium and may lower risk of severe hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossbred pigs (n = 216) were used to test the effect of supplemental l-carnitine (CARN) on the fatty acid composition and quality characteristics of fresh pork bellies from pigs fed diets formulated with different inclusion levels of corn oil. Pigs were blocked by BW (43.6 ± 1.0 kg) and allotted randomly to pens of 6 pigs within blocks. Then, within blocks, pens were assigned randomly to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with either 0 or 100 mg/kg of supplemental CARN and 3 dietary inclusion levels (0, 2, or 4%) of corn oil (CO). When the lightest block weighed 125.0 kg, all pigs were slaughtered, and left-side bellies were captured during carcass fabrication for quality data collection. Fresh pork bellies were evaluated for length, width, thickness, and firmness (bar-suspension and Instron-compression methods) before a 2.5-cm-wide strip of belly was removed and subsequently dissected into subcutaneous fat, primary lean (latissimus dorsi), secondary lean (cutaneous trunci), and intermuscular fat for fatty acid composition determination. Although belly length, width, and thickness of fresh pork bellies were not affected by CARN (P ⩾ 0.128) or CO (P ⩾ 0.073), belly firmness decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary CO, but there was no (P ⩾ 0.137) effect of CARN on any belly firmness measure. Dietary CARN increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of total SFA in the intermuscular fat layer, increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of total MUFA in the primary and secondary lean layers, and decreased (P < 0.05) the proportion of total PUFA in the intermuscular fat and secondary lean layers of pork bellies. Moreover, the SFA and MUFA compositions decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary CO, and the rate of the decrease in SFA composition was greater (P < 0.001) in the fat layers than the lean layers. Conversely, the PUFA content increased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary CO, and the rate of the increase in PUFA was greater (P < 0.001) in the fat than the lean layers, and greater (P = 0.022) in the primary than secondary lean layer. Results from this study would indicate that differences in the amount and rate of fatty acid deposition associated with feeding increased amounts of CO, along with moisture differences among the belly layers, combine to negatively affect fresh pork belly firmness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Maternal diet influences fetal growth and postnatal development. We hypothesized that concepts gestated in sows provided ad libitum vs. restricted feed intake would differ in the milieu of hormones, growth factors, nutrients, and metabolites asso- ciated with growth and metabolism. This hypothesis was tested in two experiments by providing fourth-par- ity sows (Pig Improvement Co. C15 bred to Line 326 boars) with either 1.81 kg/d (as-fed basis; control) or ad libitum access to gestation diet. In Exp. 1, control (n = 6) or ad libitum (6.4 ± 0.11 kg/d; n = 9) treatments were provided from d 29 to 45 (onset of estrus is d 0), and sows were slaughtered on d 46. Ad libitum sows gained more weight from d 29 to 45 than controls (34.0 vs. 4.32 kg, respectively; P < 0.01). No differences were observed on d 46 for the number of fetuses, conceptus attachment length, allantoic + amniotic fluid volume, placental weight, fetal weight, and fetal crown-to-rump length. Variation in fetal crown-to-rump length was less (P c 0.03) in sows fed ad libitum. Sows fed ad libitum had greater (P < 0.01) JGF-J and insulin concentrations in plasma than controls on d 43. In Exp. 2, sows were fed 1.81 kg/d (n = 6) or ad libitum (7.0 ± 0.11 kg/d; n = 4) from d 30 to 56 of gestation, when sows were anesthetized and samples were collected surgically from their gravid uteri. Sows fed ad libitum gained more weight (P c 0.01) than did controls and had more (P < 0.06) IGF-J in their plasma and the plasma collected from umbilical veins of their fetuses. No differences were found for concentrations of insulin or glucose in plasma of sows or fetuses, but urea N concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in maternal plasma and in the plasma, and allantoic and amniotic fluids of conceptuses from sows fed ad libitum. Combined data from Exp. 1 and 2 revealed a treatment x fetal number inter- action (P < 0.05) for average fetal weight. The expected negative relationship between within-litter average fetal weight and the number of fetuses per uterus was observed for control sows (y = 115.4 - 1.75 x fetal num- ber; P < 0.05), but litters of ad libitum sows did not show this effect. The hypothesis that providing feed in excess of established requirements in early gestation affects the in utero milieu is supported by these results. Data further reveal that, at least at mid-gestation, the restraint to fetal growth that is exhibited when fetal number increases in control sows is not exhibited when sows are fed ad libitum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred sixteen crossbred barrows and guts (84.3 kg BW) were used to test the effects of dietary energy density and lysine:energy ratio (Lys:ME) on the performance, carcass characteristics, and pork quality of finishing pigs fed 10 ppm ractopamine. Pigs were blocked by BW and gender, allotted to 36 pens (six pigs per pen), and pens were assigned randomly within blocks to dietary treatments (as-fed basis) arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design, with two levels of energy (3.30 or 3.48 Mcal/kg) and three Lys:ME (1.7, 2.4, or 3.1 g lysine/Mcal) levels. Pigs were fed experimental diets for 28 d, and weights and feed disappearance were recorded weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Upon completion of the feeding trial, pigs were slaughtered and carcass data were collected before fabrication. During carcass fabrication, hams were analyzed for lean composition using a ham electrical conductivity (TOBEC) unit, and loins were collected, vacuum..packaged and boxed for pork quality data collection. Energy density had no (F> 0.22) effect on ADG or ADFJ across the entire 28-d feeding trial; however, pigs fed 3.48 Mcal of ME were more (P < 0.02) efficient than pigs fed 3.30 Mcal of ME. In addition, ADG and G:F increased linearly (P < 0.01) as Lys:ME increased from 1.7 to 3.1 g/Mcal. Carcasses of pigs fed 3.48 Meal of ME were fatter at the last lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.08) and 10th rib (P < 0.04), resulting in a lower (P < 0.03) predicted fat-free lean yield (FFLY). Conversely, 10th-rib fat thickness decreased linearly (P = 0.02), and LM depth (P < 0.01) and area (P < 0.01) increased linearly, with increasing Lys:ME. Moreover, FFLY (P <0.01) and actual ham lean yield (P < 0.01) increased as Lys:ME increased in the diet. Dietary energy density had no (P> 0.19) effect on pork quality, and Lys:ME did not (P> 0.20) affect muscle pH, drip loss, color, and firmness scores. Marbling scores, as well as LM lipid content, decreased linearly (P cc 0.01) as Lys:ME in- creased from 1.7 to 3.1 g/Mcal. There was a linear (P <0.01) increase in shear force of cooked LM chops as Lys:ME increased in the finishing diet. Results indicate that 3.30 Meal of ME/kg (as-fed basis) is sufficient for optimal performance and carcass leanness in pigs fed ractopamine. The Lys:ME for optimal performance and carcass composition seems higher than that currently used in the swine industry; however, feeding very high Lys:ME (>3.0 g/Mcal, as-fed basis) to ractopamine-fed pigs may result in decreased marbling and cooked pork tenderness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transportation system for safe movement of up to 1.0 Ci of [sup 11]CO[sub 2] from a production facility to an experimental facility 800 m away is described. This development allows plant physiological tracer kinetic studies to be performed in a remote laboratory location which is more suitable for plant growth. It also has the potential to allow field studies to be performed in nearby outdoor field plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of water stress in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam] `Georgia Jet') on biomass production and plant-water relationships in an enriched CO2 atmosphere. Plants were grown in pots containing sandy loam soil (Typic Paleudult) at two concentrations of elevated CO2 and two water regimes in open-top field chambers. During the first 12 d of water stress, leaf xylem potentials were higher in plants grown in a CO2 concentration of 438 and 666 μmol mol-1 than in plants grown at 364 μmol mol-1. The 364 μmol mol-1 CO2 grown plants had to be rewatered 2 d earlier than the high CO2-grown plants in response to water stress. For plants grown under water stress, the yield of storage roots and root: shoot ratio were greater at high CO2 than at 364 μmol mol-1; the increase, however, was not linear with increasing CO2 concentrations. In well-watered plants, biomass production and storage root yield increased at elevated CO2, and these were greater as compared to water-stressed plants grown at the same CO2 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The five rights of clinical decision support (CDS) are a well-known framework for planning the nuances of CDS, but recent advancements have given us more options to modify the format of the alert. One-size-fits-all assessments fail to capture the nuance of different BestPractice Advisory (BPA) formats. To demonstrate a tailored evaluation methodology, we assessed a BPA after implementation of Storyboard for changes in alert fatigue, behavior influence, and task completion; (2) Methods: Data from 19 weeks before and after implementation were used to evaluate differences in each domain. Individual clinics were evaluated for task completion and compared for changes pre- and post-redesign; (3) Results: The change in format was correlated with an increase in alert fatigue, a decrease in erroneous free text answers, and worsened task completion at a system level. At a local level, however, 14% of clinics had improved task completion; (4) Conclusions: While the change in BPA format was correlated with decreased performance, the changes may have been driven primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework and metrics proposed can be used in future studies to assess the impact of new CDS formats. Although the changes in this study seemed undesirable in aggregate, some positive changes were observed at the level of individual clinics. Personalized implementations of CDS tools based on local need should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine Awake® (SW) is a novel, bioactive, non-antimicrobial small protein that alters the immune system after consumption by animals. A study was conducted to evaluate supplementation of SW via oral gavage on growth performance and immune responses of weaning pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Forty-eight commercial weanling barrows (5.5 ± 0.6 kg BW), free of PRRSV, were randomly allotted to either a Control treatment without supplementation of SW (CON) or oral gavage of SW at 5.0 mg/head/d (OGSW). Pigs were housed with two pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment for 25 d [4 d before and 21 d after the inoculation of PRRSV (d 0)]. In addition, 32 weanling barrows (5.7 ± 0.7 kg BW) were housed in four pens with 8 pigs per pen at non-challenged barn to serve as a reference treatment (NegCON) during the same experimental period. White blood cells, viral load, PRRSV antibody titer, and porcine cytokines were measured in blood samples. All pigs were euthanized on d 21 to measure the percentage of fresh and microscopic lung lesions. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Infection of PRRSV significantly reduced pig ADG by 45% (P < 0.001) and ADFI by 37% (P < 0.001) comparing CON with NegCON with no effect on pig mortality. Oral gavage of SW significantly improved pig ADG by 21% from d 0 to 21 (0.24 vs. 0.20 kg/day, P = 0.05) and tended to improve pig BW on d 21 (10.5 vs. 9.6 kg, P = 0.07) compared with CON. On d 21 OGSW significantly reduced microscopic lung lesions compared with CON (0.95 vs. 1.33, P = 0.05). Additionally, the number of neutrophils was decreased (P = 0.06) while the number of lymphocytes was increased (P = 0.05) in pigs receiving OGSW compared with pigs fed CON on d 21, resulting in lower neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (P = 0.009). These white blood cells were similar between those in non-challenged pigs and challenged pigs supplemented with SW. Furthermore, OGSW tended to increase serum level of IL-12 on d 21 compared with CON (P = 0.10). No significant differences were observed on viral load, Ct values or percentage of fresh lung lesions. In conclusion, these results indicate that oral gavage of SW reduced the adverse effects of PRRSV by enhancing the immune system ahead of challenge which led to improved growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the abstract of the study 'Evaluation of BioSaf and Safmannan in non-medicated diets for pigs 15 to 113 kg body weight,' presented at the American Society of Animal Science's Midwestern Branch conference on March 17-19, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Discusses the abstract of the study 'Evaluation of BioPlus 2B in non-medicated diets for pigs from 15 to 113 kg body weight,' presented at the American Society of Animal Science's Midwestern Branch conference on March 17-19, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Discusses the abstract of the study 'Evaluation of a botanical extract in nonmedicated diets for pigs 15 to 113 kg body weight,' presented at the American Society of Animal Science's Midwestern Branch conference on March 17-19, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Discusses the abstract of the study 'Evaluation of phytase source and level in diets for pigs 12 to 86 kg body weight,' presented at the American Society of Animal Science's Midwestern Branch conference on March 17-19, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa.

New information is needed regarding the types and concentrations of mycotoxins in swine feed. We hypothesized that (1) the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZEN) vary among swine ingredient and feed types, and (2) the inclusion of specific ingredients is associated with mycotoxin contamination in complete feed. A total of 707 samples were collected from cooperators in 14 states between June 2018 and January 2020 then analyzed for DON, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, NIV, and ZEN contamination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ninety-four percent (663/707) of samples contained DON, 33% (230/707) of samples contained 3-AcDON, 57% (404/707) of samples contained 15-AcDON, 1% (6/707) of samples contained NIV, and 47% (335/707) of samples contained ZEN. Seventy-three percent (514/707) of samples contained multiple mycotoxins. Resulting DON concentrations were below the national advisory limits for all sample types, and no advisory limits are imposed for the other mycotoxins studied. Increased incorporation of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was associated with increased DON in complete feed (R 2  = 0.82)., (© 2021. Society for Mycotoxin (Research Gesellschaft für Mykotoxinforschung e.V.) and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The José Guadalupe Posada Collection of the Ibero-American Institute, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation - a Case Study on Digitization and its Impacts on the Work in Libraries. Digitization in a broader sense and digitization of printed cultural heritage especially have brought about many changes regarding the tasks and responsabilities of research librarians. New ways of thinking and acting are required as the objects and their mobile and connective qualities come into focus. These alterations stand in such contrast to the traditional 'librarian', that the concept of the 'embedded librarian' has arisen. A digitization project completed recently at the Ibero-American Institute in Berlin will serve as an example to shed some light on this new phenomenon of librarianship., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Malpighia emarginata is cultivated in almost all Brazil and is considered an important agricultural crop. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii has been described as a major threat to this crop, causing great production losses. Due to the scarcity of information about the severity of this parasite in M. emarginata plants in Brazil, this study investigated M. enterolobii resistance of ten M. emarginata genotypes from the active germplasm bank of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. The experiment was conducted adopting a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 11 x 2 x 5, where M. emarginata cuttings were inoculated with 10,000 eggs in a greenhouse. After 150 days, plants were evaluated for the following parameters: gall index, egg mass index, number of eggs per root system, number of eggs per gram of root, and reproduction factor. The accessions showed different responses depending on host x pathogen interaction, from susceptibility to moderate tolerance. Accessions 027-CMF and 031-CMF were considered tolerant to the nematode and could be of great value in new breeding programs for resistance to M. enterolobii infection.

Biochemical and molecular mechanisms have been essential mechanisms to reduce various insect attacks on plants. The biochemical methods are wide involving direct and indirect defenses. The defensive chemical substances are secreted effectively to the wound caused by the herbivores (insects and phytopathogens) on plants. Plants responded by producing VOCs which draw the natural enemies of the insects and phytopathogens. The progress observed in the cognition of the stimulus in plants and their potential to control the responses is characterized by the modification observed in molecular mechanisms which shifts our attention to the development of the endogenous resistance methods of preserving crops. The main objective of implementing a biotechnological mechanism in crop production is to employ durable and multimechanistic alternatives to insect pests via the stimulus the plant produces upon encountering the insect attack.

Fuel ethanol co-products known as distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a significant source of energy, protein, and phosphorous in animal feed. Fuel ethanol production may concentrate mycotoxins present in corn into DDGS. One hundred and forty one corn DDGS lots collected in 2011 from 78 ethanol plants located in 12 states were screened for the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZON). DON ranged from <0.50 to 14.62 μg g-1, 15-ADON ranged from <0.10 to 7.55 μg g-1, and ZON ranged from <0.10 to 2.12 μg g-1. None of the DDGS lots contained 3-ADON or NIV. Plants in OH had the highest levels of DON overall (mean of 9.51 μg g-1), and plants in NY, MI, IN, NE, and WI had mean DON levels >1 and <4 μg g-1. Twenty six percent (36/141) of the DDGS lots contained 1.0 to 5.0 μg g-1 DON, 2% (3/141) contained >5.0 and <10.0 μg g-1 DON, and 3% (4/141) contained >10.0 μg g-1 DON. All DDGS lots contaminated with unacceptable levels of DON evaded detection prior to their commercial distribution and were likely sold as feed products.

Enabling clinical decision support (CDS) across multiple electronic health record (EHR) systems has been a desired but largely unattained aim of clinical informatics, especially in commercial EHR systems. A potential opportunity for enabling such scalable CDS is to leverage vendor-supported, Web-based CDS development platforms along with vendor-supported application programming interfaces (APIs). Here, we propose a potential staged approach for enabling such scalable CDS, starting with the use of custom EHR APIs and moving towards standardized EHR APIs to facilitate interoperability. We analyzed three commercial EHR systems for their capabilities to support the proposed approach, and we implemented prototypes in all three systems. Based on these analyses and prototype implementations, we conclude that the approach proposed is feasible, already supported by several major commercial EHR vendors, and potentially capable of enabling cross-platform CDS at scale.

Brazil is the world's largest producer of acerola, Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae); the Northeast is responsible for 60% of the national production. The culture of acerola in Brazil has great genetic variability; plantings have high phenotypic diversity and are not very productive, often originating from propagation by seed. We evaluated the genetic diversity of 42 accessions from the Acerola Active Germplasm Bank of Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Using 15 RAPD primers, 182 markers were obtained, of which 166 were polymorphic and 16 were monomorphic. We found high genetic variability among the accessions (ĤE = 0.29), with no redundancy. Considering the accessions from the states of Pernambuco, Bahia and Pará as distinct groups, there was greater diversity in accessions from Bahia than from the other two states.

Clinical pathways, or caremaps, have become key tools for hospitals to streamline patient care. They are most applicable in situations where a high degree of predictability regarding treatment and/or diagnostic intervention is expected. Perceived advantages include cost savings, more uniform nursing care, and improved patient satisfaction. Total joint replacement is an ideal indication for implementation of clinical pathways. At the authors' institution, despite the adoption of a clinical pathway for these procedures, postoperative orders continue to be handwritten DE NOVO adding variability that may be detrimental to patient safety. This article describes the authoring and implementation of a computerized order process for the care of postoperative total joints patients using a multidisciplinary approach.

Limited prospective data exist that define advantages and disadvantages of text-based versus graphical user interfaces in Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). We created a single set of admission orders in both formats and, using a randomized crossover design, assessed the usage and perceptions of the two interfaces by 51 physicians during the first six weeks (2 week blocks of one format, then the alternative, then free choice) following implementation in a postsurgical unit.

We conducted two trials to determine the effects of added dietary pyridoxine (vitamin B6) or thiamin (vitamin B1) on growth performance of weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, weanling pigs (n = 180, initially 5.55 +/- .84 kg, and 21 +/- 2 d of age) were fed either a control diet (no added pyridoxine or thiamin) or the control diet with added thiamin (2.8 or 5.5 mg/kg) from thiamin mononitrate or pyridoxine (3.9 or 7.7 mg/kg) from pyridoxine HC1. These five diets were fed in meal form in two phases (d0 to 14 and 14 to 35 after weaning), with identical vitamin concentrations in both phases. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, pigs fed added pyridoxine had increased (quadratic, P < .05) ADG and ADFI; pigs fed 3.9 mg/kg of added pyridoxine had the greatest improvement. From d 14 to 35 and 0 to 35, ADG and ADFI increased (linear P = .06) for pigs fed increasing pyridoxine. Growth performance was not improved by added thiamin. In Exp. 2, weanling pigs (n = 216, initially 6.08 +/- 1.13 kg, and 21 +/- 2 d of age) were fed a control diet or the control diet with 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, or 5.5 mg/kg of added pyridoxine from pyridoxine HCl. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, increasing pyridoxine increased (quadratic, P < .05) ADG and ADFI; pigs fed 3.3 mg/kg of added pyridoxine had the greatest ADG and ADFI. Break-point analysis suggested a requirement estimate of 3.3 and 3.0 mg/kg of added pyridoxine to maximize ADG and ADFI, respectively. From d 14 to 35 or 0 to 35, increasing pyridoxine had no effect (P > .10) on pig growth performance. These results suggest that adding 3.3 mg/kg of pyridoxine (7.1 to 7.9 mg/kg of total pyridoxine) to diets fed from d 0 to 14 after weaning can improve pig growth performance.

Sows of differing parities and genetics were used at different locations to determine the effects of feeding added L-carnitine during lactation on sow and litter performance. In Exp. 1, sows (n = 50 PIC C15) were fed a lactation diet (1.0% total lysine, .9% Ca, and .8% P) with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine from d 108 of gestation until weaning (d 21). No differences in litter weaning weight, survivability, sow ADFI, or sow weight and last rib fat depth change were observed. Number of pigs born alive in the subsequent farrowing were not different (P>.10). In Exp. 2, parity-three and -four sows (n = 115 Large White cross) were used to determine the effect of feeding 0, 50, 100, or 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing .9% total lysine, 1.0% Ca, and .8% P) on sow and litter performance. No improvements in the number of pigs or litter weights at weaning were observed (P>.10). Sows fed added L-carnitine had increased weight loss (linear; P<.04), but no differences (P>.10) were observed in last rib fat depth change or subsequent reproductive performance. In Exp. 3, first-parity sows (n = 107 PIC C15) were fed a diet with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing 1.0% total lysine). Sows fed added L-carnitine tended (P<.10) to have fewer stillborn and mummified pigs than controls (.42 vs .81 pigs). No differences were observed for litter weaning weight, survivability, or subsequent farrowing performance. Feeding 50 to 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation had little effect on sow and litter performance.

Multiparous sows (n = 307) were used to evaluate the effects of added dietary L-carnitine, 100 mg/d during gestation and 50 ppm during lactation, on sow and litter performance. Treatments were arranged as a 2 (gestation or lactation) x2 (with or without L-carnitine) factorial. Control sows were fed 1.81 kg/d of a gestation diet containing .65% total lysine. Treated sows were fed 1.59 kg/d of the control diet with a .23 kg/d topdressing of the control diet that provided 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine. Lactation diets were formulated to contain 1.0% total lysine with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine. Sows fed 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine had increased IGF-I concentration on d 60 (71.3 vs. 38.0 ng/mL, P<.01) and 90 of gestation (33.0 vs. 25.0 ng/mL, P = .04). Sows fed added L-carnitine had increased BW gain (55.3 vs 46.3 kg; P<.01) and last rib fat depth gain (2.6 vs. 1.6 mm; P = .04) during gestation. Feeding 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine in gestation increased both total litter (15.5 vs. 14.6 kg; P = .04) and pig (1.53 vs 1.49 kg; P<.01) birth weight. No differences were observed in pig birth weight variation. Added L-carnitine fed during gestation increased litter weaning weight (45.0 vs. 41.3 kg, P = .02); however, no effect of feeding L-carnitine during lactation was observed. No differences were observed in subsequent days to estrus or farrowing rate. Compared to the control diet, feeding added L-carnitine in either gestation, lactation, or both, increased (P<.05) the subsequent number of pigs born alive, but not total born. In conclusion, feeding L-carnitine throughout gestation increased sow body weight and last rib fat depth gain and increased litter weights at birth and weaning.

An electrostatic truck-mounted spray system (Spectrum, Houston, TX) and a nonelectrostatic spray system (Micro-Gen G-4, San Antonio, TX) were tested to determine the feasibility of electrostatically charging Aqua Reslin, a water-based permethrin insecticide, and ascertain whether an electrostatic charge would increase the efficiency of Aqua Reslin against Anopheles quadrimaculatus adults. Parameters tested for both machines included mean mass median diameter (MMD) of droplets, number of drops per cm2, and posttreatment percent mortality at 1, 12, and 24 h. Results indicated that the electrostatically charged droplets produced greater mortality at each distance and hour posttreatment. Correlation coefficients and linear equations were calculated for distance-mortality, MMD-mortality, drops per cm2-mortality, distance-drops per cm2, distance-MMD, and MMD-drops per cm2. Results indicated that the electrostatic drops demonstrated strong correlations between each paired variable, whereas the nonelectrostatic drops showed poor correlation between drops per cm2-mortality, distance-drops per cm2, and MMD-drops per cm2. However, from this trial, these differences cannot be attributed purely to the electrostatic charge because significant differences in droplet size can affect spray performance.

We conducted five experiments to evaluate conventional and low-glycoalkaloid potato protein (CPP and LGPP, respectively) in diets for early-weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 150 weanling pigs (initially 4.4 +/- .9 kg and 15.5 +/- 2 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 3% spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) or diets with additional SDAP (2.5 or 5% added; 5.5 or 8% total) or CPP (2.6% or 5.1%) substituted on a total lysine basis. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, increasing SDAP increased (linear, P < .05) ADG and ADFI, whereas increasing CCP had no effect on growth performance. In Exp. 2, 180 weanling pigs (initially 5.9 +/- 1.2 kg and 20 +/- 2 d of age) were fed diets containing a LGPP replacing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the 7% dietary SDAP on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, increasing LGPP increased and then returned to control levels ADG and ADFI (quadratic, P < .01) and gain:feed ratio (quadratic, P < .05). In Exp. 3, 175 weanling pigs (initially 5.5 +/- 1.1 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 20% dried whey, 17.5% dried skim milk, and 4% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) or diets consisting of lactose and either 3.5 and 7.0% SDAP or 4.0 and 8.0% LGPP added at the expense of dried skim milk on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, ADG and ADFI increased (linear, P < .05) with increasing SDAP. With increasing LGPP, ADG and ADFI increased and then decreased (quadratic, P < .10 and P < .05, respectively). Gain:feed ratio (G/F) was not affected by SDAP and was improved (linear, P < .05) for pigs fed increasing LGPP. In Exp. 4, 270 weanling pigs (initially 6.2 +/- 1.6 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were used to compare three diets that contained either 2.5% spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), 4.8% SMFM, or 3.92% CPP; test feedstuffs were substituted on a total lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. Pigs fed CPP had decreased (P < .05) ADG and G/F compared with those fed the other protein sources. In Exp. 5, 255 weanling pigs (initially 5.3 +/- 1.2 kg and 17 +/- 2 d of age), were used to compare five diets that contained either 2.5% SDBM, 5.51% SMFM, 4.17% CPP, 4.17% LGPP or 8.34% LGPP; feedstuffs were substituted on a digestible lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. No differences (P > .10) were observed in growth performance among pigs fed any of the protein sources within the experiment. However, pigs fed the LGPP had numerically greater ADG and better G/F than those fed CPP. In conclusion, these results suggest that LGPP can be an effective replacement for a portion of the SDAP in diets for weanling pigs.

Shoots of 16-day-old soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr. cv Ransom) were chilled to 10 degrees C for 7 days and monitored for visible signs of damage, ultrastructural changes, perturbations in fluorescence of chlorophyll (Chl), and quantitative changes in Chl a and b and associated pigments. Precautions were taken to prevent the confounding effects of water stress. A technique for the separation of lutein and zeaxanthin was developed utilizing a step gradient with the high performance liquid chromatograph. Visible losses in Chl were detectable within the first day of chilling, and regreening did not occur until the shoots were returned to 25 degrees C. Ultrastructurally, unstacking of chloroplast grana occurred, and the envelope membranes developed protrusions. Furthermore, the lipids were altered to the point that the membranes were poorly stabilized by a glutaraldehyde/osmium double-fixation procedure. Chl fluorescence rates were greatly reduced within 2 hours after chilling began and returned to normal only after rewarming. The rapid loss of Chl that occurred during chilling was accompanied by the appearance of zeaxanthin and a decline in violaxanthin. Apparently a zeaxanthin-violaxanthin epoxidation/de-epoxidation cycle was operating. When only the roots were chilled, no substantial changes were detected in ultrastructure, fluorescence rates, or pigment levels.

The immediate short term effects on some physiological processes and the long term effects on morphology and reproductive development of root- and shoot-chilled soybeans (Glycine max L. cv Ransom) were studied. Roots or shoots of 16- or 17-day-old plants were chilled at 10 degrees C for one week, and then rewarmed to 25 degrees C. Leaf elongation rate, net CO(2) uptake rate, and stomatal conductance decreased during root or shoot chilling. Root chilling had only temporary effects on water relations, while shoot chilling caused large changes in potentials during chilling. Most processes measured returned to control levels after two days of rewarming. Root-chilled plants harvested 90 days after emergence were similar in morphology and seed weight to controls. Shoot-chilled plants showed a large increase over controls in axillary branch growth, but an early abortion of flowers and a delayed resumption of flowering caused a 78% reduction in seed weight. Root chilling in this study was found to have little or no long term effect on the plants, while shoot chilling caused significant changes in vegetative morphology, and a delay in flowering and subsequent pod filling.