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Using isochronous mass spectrometry at the experimental storage ring CSRe in Lanzhou, the masses of 82Zr and 84Nb were measured for the first time with an uncertainty of ∼10 keV, and the masses of 79Y, 81Zr, and 83Nb were re-determined with a higher precision. The latter are significantly less bound than their literature values. Our new and accurate masses remove the irregularities of the mass surface in this region of the nuclear chart. Our results do not support the predicted island of pronounced low α separation energies for neutron-deficient Mo and Tc isotopes, making the formation of Zr–Nb cycle in the rp-process unlikely. The new proton separation energy of 83Nb was determined to be 490(400) keV smaller than that in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012. This partly removes the overproduction of the p-nucleus 84Sr relative to the neutron-deficient molybdenum isotopes in the previous νp-process simulations. Keywords: Atomic masses, Ion storage ring, Isochronous mass spectrometry, rp-Process, νp-Process

We report on the first detailed study of intruder configurations in the ground state of 30Ne by means of the 12C(30Ne, 29Ne+γ)X one-neutron knockout reaction at 228 MeV/nucleon. Using a combined analysis of individual parallel momentum distributions and partial cross sections we find: (a) comparable p- and d-wave removal strength to 29Ne final states with excitation energies below 200 keV, and (b) significant p-wave removal strength to the 620 keV state of 29Ne, and (c) no evidence for f-wave intruder strength leading to bound 29Ne final states. The SDPF-U-MIX shell model calculation in the sd–pf model space provides a better overall agreement with the measured energy levels of 29Ne and the fp-intruder amplitudes in 30Ne than the SDPF-M prediction, suggesting that the refinement of the sd–pf cross shell interaction and extension of the model space to include the 2p1/2 and 1f5/2 levels are important for understanding the island of inversion.

Epigenetics links perinatal influences with later obesity. We identifed differentially methylated CpG (dmCpG) loci measured at 17 years associated with concurrent adiposity measures and examined whether these were associated with hsCRP, adipokines, and early life environmental factors. Genome-wide DNA methylation from 1192 Raine Study participants at 17 years, identified 29 dmCpGs (Bonferroni corrected p

A total of 960 male Cobb 500 broilers were used in a growth performance study to explore the effect of coccidial vaccination and/or coccidial challenge on blood biochemistry and veterinary postmortem metrics. Day-old chicks were randomly divided into one of the 4 experimental treatments. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the factors being without or with vaccination (administered on day 1) or coccidial challenge (oral gavage on day 7). Growth performance was monitored on a weekly basis. Blood sample collection, as well as full veterinary necropsies, were carried out on days 6, 8, 13, 20, 27, and 34. Birds that did not receive the vaccination but were challenged with coccidiosis had higher feed conversion ratio, lower body weights, and higher mortality than the other experimental groups, and this effect was particularly evident from day 13 to day 20. Birds challenged with coccidiosis had lower plasma sodium and total carotenoid concentrations and higher potassium and globulin concentrations than nonchallenged birds. Significant interactions between age and experimental treatment for these blood parameters were observed, particularly on day 13. The necropsy results confirmed the effectiveness of the challenge and vaccination treatments, wherein birds that were challenged had higher coccidiosis scores on day 13 and day 27 than birds that were not challenged. These results demonstrate the potential for plasma sodium, potassium, total protein, total carbon dioxide, globulin, and carotenoid analysis for early diagnosis of coccidiosis in growing broiler chickens. Further work is necessary to establish whether the changes in blood biochemistry observed in the present study are transferable to alternative flocks of chicken and whether early diagnosis and intervention may mitigate performance losses associated with this disease.

SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation and dietary fat source during the finisher period on carcass characteristics and breast muscle myopathies following acute heat stress. Thermal manipulation (TM) of incubation temperatures has been shown to improve bird resistance to heat stress and enhance breast muscle growth. Fat supplementation is frequently used during heat stress and fat source may alter carcass composition, as fat sources rich in unsaturated fatty acids have been shown to reduce fat pad weight. Ross 708 eggs were incubated at 37.5°C except during TM when temperature was increased to 39.5°C for 12 h daily from embryo day 7 to 16. A total of 1,080 chicks were reared under standard conditions until acute heat stress at 43 d. Dietary treatments were applied during the finisher period beginning at 28 d, with diets including 4.5% of soya oil, poultry fat, or olive oil. At 49 d, 240 male birds were processed to assess carcass and portion weights, as well as breast quality. Carcass and portion weights were decreased by TM, however percent yield was similar to the controls. A decrease in breast muscle myopathies was noted but may have been due to the lower BW of the TM birds. Interactions between the treatments suggest that TM may alter lipid metabolism. Differences in dietary fat source did not affect carcass characteristics. The reduction in breast muscle myopathies may be negated by the negative impact of TM on carcass weights.

Summary: Modern broilers have been selected for rapid growth but demonstrate reduced heat tolerance toward market age. As the poultry industry expands globally, strategies must be developed to support broiler performance in challenging climates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) and dietary fat source during the finisher period on broiler performance during acute heat stress (AHS) close to market age. The cyclic exposure to high temperatures during mid-incubation used in TM has been demonstrated to improve broiler tolerance to heat stress. However, high incubation temperatures can be detrimental to embryonic development and impair posthatch broiler performance. Embryos were exposed to 39.5°C for 12 h daily from incubation day 7 to 16 to assess the impact of TM on hatching and broiler performance. Dietary fat is commonly added to poultry diets during heat stress and it was theorized that differences in fat source may further impact bird performance. Finisher diets were supplemented with soya oil, poultry fat, or olive oil at 4.5% each. Broilers were exposed to a period of AHS at 43 d. Embryo mortality was increased, and hatchability was reduced by TM. Broiler performance was also decreased for the TM birds, but mortality during AHS was markedly reduced. Dietary fat source did not influence bird performance but was shown to interact with incubation treatment. Overall, the present data suggest optimal performance in modern broiler strains may be at odds with improved heat tolerance.

A total of 640 broilers were used to determine the effects of strain, sex, and age on hematology and blood chemistry using rapid detection devices. Day old chicks from two genetic lines of common fast-growing and high-yield broiler strains were sexed and allocated to 40 pens (16 birds per pen) containing either male or female and Ross or Cobb strains (n = 10). Venous blood was analyzed weekly using 2 broilers from each pen (n = 20) using the i-STAT® Alinity Handheld Clinical Analyzer, Zoetis Vetscan VS2, and iCheck™ Carotene devices at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d, as well as growth performance. Post-mortem health tracking metrics were also recorded on 42 d. Broilers were deemed healthy based on posting data results and performed in accordance with industry standards with males presenting greater BW and reduced FCR than female broilers. Ross broilers displayed greater BW to 14 d with similar FCR compared with Cobb birds. Day of age had a highly significant impact on blood calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, carotene, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, bile acids, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, total carbon dioxide, hematocrit, and malondialdehyde. Male broilers had reduced blood sodium, chloride, carotene, uric acid, albumin, and increased total protein, glucose, and total carbon dioxide. Ross broilers had greater blood potassium, and sodium, as well as reduced uric acid, total protein, globulin, and malondialdehyde, compared with Cobb birds. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of point-of-care devices in measuring blood chemistry and hematology in modern broilers. These data can be utilized to determine normal healthy blood ranges in these types of broilers when accounting for strain, sex, and age.