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An experiment was conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AAby pigs in 6 sources of meat and bone meal (MBM). Eighteen ileal-cannulated barrows (initial BW: 69.3 ± 4.4 kg) were randomly allotted to a replicated 4x9 incomplete Latin square design with 4 periods and 9 diets, therefore, a total of 8 replications per diet. One diet included 33% soybean meal (SBM) as the sole source of AA and 6 diets contained 1 source of MBM included at 9% and SBM included at 22% as the only AA containing ingredients. A N-free diet was used to determine basal endogenous losses of AA. The last diet was unrelated to the experiment. The SID of AA was calculated using the direct procedure for the SBM diet. The difference procedure was used to calculate the SID of AA for all sources of MBM. The SID of Lys was greater (P < 0.05) in MBM 4 than in MBM 2, MBM 3, and MBM 6, but not different from MBM 1 and MBM 5. The SID of Met was greater (P < 0.05) in MBM 1 and MBM 4 than in MBM 3 and MBM 6, but not different from MBM 2 and MBM 5. The SID of Thr was greater (P < 0.05) in MBM 1 than in MBM 2, MBM 3, and MBM 6, but not different from MBM 4 and MBM 5. The SID of Trp was the least (P < 0.05) in MBM 3 among MBM sources. In conclusion, the SID of indispensable AA varies widely among MBM sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on relative gene expression in nursery and finishing pigs was determined. Two hundred pigs (initial BW: 6.31 ± 0.73 kg) were randomly allotted to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 2 diet types [low- (LF) or high-fiber (HF)] and 2 levels of DFM [0 or 60 g DFM (2.4 x 1012 CFU/kg feed)/MT of feed] with 5 pigs/pen. Phase 1, phase 2, grower, early-, and late-finisher diets were fed for 14, 29, 35, 35, and 24 d, respectively. The LF diets contained corn and soybean meal as main ingredients and HF diets contained corn, soybean meal, distillers dried grains with solubles (7.5, 15, and 30% in phase 1, phase 2, and grow-finish diets, respectively) and wheat middlings (10%). One pig/pen was euthanized at the conclusion of phase 2 and late-finishing. Tissue samples were collected from the ileum, cecum, rectum, and liver of pigs. Total RNA was isolated from frozen tissue samples, reverse transcribed, and transcript abundance was measured by qPCR. Primers for amplification of target MUC 2, MCT 1, D147, PEPCK, and GLP-2R genes were obtained from literature. Housekeeping genes were GAPDH and HMBS. Data were analyzed separately for nursery and finishing pigs as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with fiber and DFM as 2 factors and block as the random effect using PROC MIXED of SAS. Nursery pigs fed DFM containing diets had increased G:F, while DFM and fiber had no effect on growth performance during grow-finish. Results indicated nursery pigs fed diets containing DFM had a 1.6% reduction (P = 0.02) in liver GLP-2R expression and a tendency for increased (P = 0.09) ileumMCT1 expression. Nursery pigs fed HF diets had a 2.9% reduction (P = 0.01) in rectum MCT1 and PEPCK tended to decrease (P = 0.05). A tendency for an interaction between fiber and DFM was observed (P = 0.08) for cecum CD147 in nursery pigs. Finishing pigs fed HF diets had reduced (P < 0.05) expression of MCTI, CD147, and PEPCK in cecum tissue. Addition of DFM to diets reduced (P = 0.03) cecum GLP-2R by 1.6% in finishing pigs. High-fiber diets reduced (P < 0.05) MCTI and GLP-2R by 1.6 and 2.3%, respectively, in liver tissue of finishing pigs. In conclusion, DFM addition to diets reduced GLP-2R in the liver of nursery pigs and this may be associated with the improved G:F that was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An input-output mass balance watershed model was developed and tested on ten large benchmark watersheds in the northeastern United States. Inputs of chlorides, sulfates, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen were calculated from published census data on population, wastewater discharges, land use, air emissions, agriculture, forestry, and transportation. Attenuation factors were selected for the inputs, (for example, air deposition, fertilizer, point source discharges) and the average annual riverine export flux for the watersheds was calculated for the period from 1900 to 1995. Historic chlorides, sulfates, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen river export fluxes were independently calculated for each watershed using long term monitoring data obtainedprimarily from the USGS and public water supplies. A comparison of the attenuated watershed inputs and the monitored output river flux suggests that it is possible to obtain reasonable estimates of watershed export fluxes from existing landscape input data. The above methodology was applied to two major tributaries of the Hudson River and theresults are described. Input-output models which can simulate long term historical changes in riverine fluxes based on inputs rather thanon land use types will be useful for the development of effective and efficient nutrient control programs on a watershed basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid a high body protein mobilization in modern lean sows during lactation, an adequate dietary amino acid (AA) supply and an efficient AA utilization are crucial. This study evaluated the effects of dietary CP and in vitro protein digestion kinetics on changes in sow body condition, litter weight gain, milk composition, blood metabolites, protein utilization efficiency and subsequent reproductive performance. We hypothesized that a slower digestion of dietary protein would improve AA availability and utilization. In total, 110 multiparous sows were fed one of four lactation diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two CP concentrations: 140 g/kg vs 180 g/kg, and two protein digestion kinetics, expressed as a percentage of slow protein (in vitro degradation between 30 and 240 min): 8 vs 16% of total protein. Feeding sows the high CP diets reduced sow weight loss (Δ = 7.6 kg, P < 0.01), estimated body fat loss (Δ = 2.6 kg, P = 0.02), and estimated body protein loss (Δ = 1.0 kg, P = 0.08), but only at a high percentage of slow protein. A higher percentage of slow protein increased litter weight gain throughout lactation (Δ = 2.6 kg, P = 0.04) regardless of CP concentrations, whereas a higher CP only increased litter weight gain during week 3 of lactation (Δ = 1.2 kg, P = 0.01). On Day 15 postfarrowing, serial blood samples were taken from a subsample of sows fed with the high CP diets. In these sows, a high percentage of slow protein resulted in higher plasma AA concentrations at 150 and 180 min after feeding (Δ = 0.89, P = 0.02, Δ = 0.78, P = 0.03, mmol/L, respectively) and lower increases in urea at 90 and 120 min after feeding (Δ = 0.67, P = 0.04, Δ = 0.70, P = 0.03, mmol/L, respectively). The higher dietary CP concentration increased total nitrogen loss to the environment (Δ = 604 g, P < 0.01) with a reduction of protein efficiency (Δ = 14.8%, P < 0.01). In the next farrowing, a higher percentage of slow protein increased subsequent liveborn litter size (Δ = 0.7, P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding sows with a high dietary CP concentration alleviated maternal weight loss during lactation when the dietary protein digestion rate was slower, but lowered protein efficiency. A slower protein digestion improved litter weight gain, possibly by reducing AA oxidation and improving plasma AA availability, thus, improving protein efficiency., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Discharging children on ventricular assist device (VAD) support offers advantages for quality of life. We sought to describe discharge and readmission frequency in children on VAD support. All VAD-implanted patients aged 10-21 years at Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) centers were identified from the Pediatric Health Information System database (2009-2018). Discharge frequency on VAD was calculated. Patients discharged on VAD were compared with those not discharged. Freedom from readmission was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 298 VAD-implanted patients from 25 centers were identified, of which 163 (54.7%) were discharged. Discharges increased over time (36.9% [2009-2012] vs. 59.7% [2013-2018], p = 0.001). Of 144 discharged patients with follow-up, 96 (66.7%) were readmitted for reasons other than transplantation. Heart failure was the most common reason for readmission (27.7%), followed by infection (25.8%) and hematologic concerns (16.8%). In-hospital mortality on readmission was uncommon (1.8%) and the median length of stay was 6 days (interquartile range 2-19 days). Discharge of children on VAD support has increased over time, although variability exists across centers. Readmissions are common with diverse indications; however, the risk of mortality is low. Further interventions, including collaboration in ACTION, are critical to increasing discharges and optimizing outpatient management., Competing Interests: Disclosure: Dr. Zafar is a consultant for SynCardia and has received travel and accommodation funding from Abbott specifically for ACTION meetings. Dr. Lorts is a consultant for Abbott, Berlin Heart, and SynCardia, Inc. Dr. Conway has an unrestricted educational grant from Abbott. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © ASAIO 2020.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine net energy (NE) of expeller-press (EP-RSM) and solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (SE-RSM) and to establish equations for predicting the NE in rapeseed meal (RSM) fed to growing pigs., Methods: Thirty-six barrows (initial body weight [BW], 41.1±2.2 kg) were allotted into 6 diets comprising a corn-soybean meal basal diet and 5 diets containing 19.50% RSM added at the expense of corn and soybean meal. The experiment had 6 periods and 6 replicate pigs per diet. During each period, the pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for 16 days which included 7 days for adaption to diets. On day 8, pigs were transferred to respiration chambers and fed their respective diet at 2,000 kJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg BW0.6/d. Feces and urine were collected, and daily heat production was measured from day 9 to 13. On days 14 and 15, the pigs were fed at 890 kJ ME/kg BW0.6/d and fasted on day 16 for evaluation of fasting heat production (FHP)., Results: The FHP of pigs averaged 790 kJ/kg BW0.6/d and was not affected by the diet composition. The NE values were 10.80 and 8.45 MJ/kg DM for EP-RSM and SE-RSM, respectively. The NE value was positively correlated with gross energy (GE), digestible energy (DE), ME, and ether extract (EE). The best fit equation for NE of RSM was NE (MJ/kg DM) = 1.14×DE (MJ/kg DM)+0.46×crude protein (% of DM)-25.24 (n = 8, R2 = 0.96, p<0.01). The equation NE (MJ/kg DM) = 0.22×EE (% of DM)-0.79×ash (% of DM)+14.36 (n = 8, R2 = 0.77, p = 0.018) may be utilized to quickly determine the NE in RSM when DE or ME values are unavailable., Conclusion: The NE values of EP-RSM and SE-RSM were 10.80 and 8.45 MJ/kg DM. The NE value of RSM can be well predicted based on energy content (GE, DE, and ME) and proximate analysis.

The effects of formulating broiler diets that contain sources of either rapidly or slowly digestible protein and 2 different dietary fiber sources on growth performance were studied in broilers chickens from 0 to 36 d of age. A total of 1,920 one-day-old, male Ross 708 broiler chickens were randomly allocated and housed in 48 floor pens (40 birds/pen) to one of 4 dietary treatments. Birds were allotted according to a completely randomized block design using a factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 protein digestion rates (rapidly or slowly) and 2 dietary fiber sources [3% oat hulls (OH) or 3% sugar beet pulp (SBP)] from 0 to 36 d of age. All diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The pen was the experimental unit for all variables studied (12 replicates/treatment). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, and the model included the main effects of the protein digestion rate, dietary fiber source, and their interaction. There were 3 experimental feeding phases; starter (from day 0-14), grower (from day 14-28), and finisher (from day 28-36). Results indicated that broilers fed diets containing sources that supplied more rapidly digestible protein had 4% greater (P < 0.01) ADG and improved (P < 0.01) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 5% throughout the experiment, most notably after the starter phase. Diets containing 3% OH increased (P < 0.05) the ADFI and ADG (P < 0.05) in the starter phase compared with broilers fed diets containing 3% SBP, without affecting the FCR. The ADG and FCR of broilers fed diets containing sources of slowly digestible protein were improved (P < 0.05) to the level of broilers fed rapidly digestible protein containing diets with the addition of 3% OH. It is concluded that broiler diets should be formulated to contain a high concentration of ingredients that supply rapidly digestible protein, but if this is cost-prohibitive, then 3% OH could be used to increase the ADFI and ADG and potentially protein digestion rates to reduce the FCR., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Widespread changes in water temperatures, salinity, alkalinity and pH have been documented in inland waters in North America, which influence ion exchange, weathering rates, chemical solubility and contaminant toxicity. Increasing major ion concentrations from pollution, human-accelerated weathering and saltwater intrusion contribute to multiple ecological stressors such as changing ionic strength and pH and mobilization of chemical mixtures resulting in the freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS). Here, we explore novel combinations of elements, which are transported together as chemical mixtures containing salts, nutrients and metals as a consequence of FSS. First, we show that base cation concentrations have increased in regions primarily in North America and Europe over 100 years. Second, we show interactions between specific conductance, pH, nitrate and metals using data from greater than 20 streams located in different regions of the USA. Finally, salinization experiments and routine monitoring demonstrate mobilization of chemical mixtures of cations, metals and nutrients in 10 streams draining the Washington, DC-Baltimore, MD metropolitan regions. Freshwater salinization mobilizes diverse chemical mixtures influencing drinking water quality, infrastructure corrosion, freshwater CO 2 concentrations and biodiversity. Most regulations currently target individual contaminants, but FSS requires managing mobilization of multiple chemical mixtures and interacting ecological stressors as consequences of freshwater salinization.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'., (© 2018 The Author(s).)

In the Anthropocene 1 , watershed chemical transport is increasingly dominated by novel combinations elements, which are hydrologically linked together as 'chemical cocktails.' Chemical cocktails are novel because human activities greatly enhance elemental concentrations and their probability for biogeochemical interactions and shared transport along hydrologic flowpaths. A new chemical cocktail approach advances our ability to: trace contaminant mixtures in watersheds, develop chemical proxies with high-resolution sensor data, and manage multiple water quality problems. We explore the following questions: (1) Can we classify elemental transport in watersheds as chemical cocktails using a new approach? (2) What is the role of climate and land use in enhancing the formation and transport of chemical cocktails in watersheds? To address these questions, we first analyze trends in concentrations of carbon, nutrients, metals, and salts in fresh waters over 100 years. Next, we explore how climate and land use enhance the probability of formation of chemical cocktails of carbon, nutrients, metals, and salts. Ultimately, we classify transport of chemical cocktails based on solubility, mobility, reactivity, and dominant phases: (1) sieved chemical cocktails (e.g., particulate forms of nutrients, metals and organic matter); (2) filtered chemical cocktails (e.g., dissolved organic matter and associated metal complexes); (3) chromatographic chemical cocktails (e.g., ions eluted from soil exchange sites); and (4) reactive chemical cocktails (e.g., limiting nutrients and redox sensitive elements). Typically, contaminants are regulated and managed one element at a time, even though combinations of elements interact to influence many water-quality problems such as toxicity to life, eutrophication, infrastructure and water treatment. A chemical cocktail approach significantly expands evaluations of water-quality signatures and impacts beyond single elements to mixtures. High-frequency sensor data (pH, specific conductance, turbidity, etc.) can serve as proxies for chemical cocktails and improve real-time analyses of water-quality violations, identify regulatory needs, and track water quality recovery following and extreme climate events. Ultimately, a watershed chemical cocktail approach is necessary for effectively co-managing groups of contaminants and provides a more holistic approach for studying, monitoring, and managing water quality in the Anthropocene.