Altering palmitic acid and stearic acid ratios in the diet of early-lactation Holsteins under heat stress: Feed intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, milk yield and composition, and plasma metabolites.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying the ratio of dietary palmitic (C16:0; PA) and stearic (C18:0; SA) acids on nutrient digestibility, production, and blood metabolites of early-lactation Holsteins under mild-to-moderate heat stress. Eight multiparous Holsteins (body weight = 589 ± 45 kg; days in milk = 51 ± 8 d; milk production = 38.5 ± 2.4 kg/d; mean ± standard deviation) were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (21-d periods inclusive of 7-d data collection). The PA (88.9%)- and SA (88.5%)-enriched fat supplements, either individually or in combination, were added to diets at 2% of dry matter (DM) to formulate the following treatments: (1) 100PA:0SA (100% PA + 0% SA), (2) 66PA:34SA (66% PA + 34% SA), (3) 34PA:66SA (34% PA + 66% SA), and (4) 0PA:100SA (0% PA + 100% SA). Diets offered, in the form of total mixed rations, were formulated to be isonitrogenous (crude protein = 17.2% of DM) and isocaloric (net energy for lactation = 1.69 Mcal/kg DM), with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60. Ambient temperature-humidity index averaged 72.9 throughout the experiment, suggesting that cows were under mild-to-moderate heat stress. No differences in DM intake across treatments were detected (mean 23.5 ± 0.64 kg/d). Increasing the dietary proportion of SA resulted in a linear decrease in total-tract digestibility of total fatty acids, but organic matter, DM, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein digestibilities were not different across treatments. Decreasing dietary PA-to-SA had no effect on the time spent eating (340 min/d), rumination (460 min/d), and chewing (808 min/d). As dietary PA-to-SA decreased, milk fat concentration and yield decreased linearly, resulting in a linear decrease of 3.5% fat-corrected milk production and milk fat-to-protein ratio. Feed efficiency expressed as kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk/kg DM intake decreased linearly with decreasing the proportion of PA-to-SA in the diet. Treatments had no effect on milk protein and lactose content. A linear increase in de novo and preformed fatty acids was identified as the ratio of PA to SA decreased, while PA and SA concentrations of milk fat decreased and increased linearly, respectively. A linear reduction in blood nonesterified fatty acids and glucose was detected as the ratio of PA to SA decreased. Insulin concentration increased linearly from 10.3 in 100PA:0SA to 13.1 µIU/mL in 0PA:100SA, whereas blood ß-hydroxybutyric acid was not different across treatments. In conclusion, the heat-stressed Holsteins in early-lactation phase fed diets richer in PA versus SA produced greater fat-corrected milk and were more efficient in converting feed to fat-corrected milk.

Short communication: Blood metabolites, body reserves, and feed efficiency of high-producing dairy cows that varied in ruminal pH when fed a high-concentrate diet.

Recent studies report considerable variation in ruminal pH for lactating dairy cows even when fed the same diet. We hypothesized that blood metabolites would be indicators of low ruminal pH, and hence could be used as predictors to help manage this variability. The objective of the study was to determine whether blood metabolite concentrations, body reserves, and feed efficiency were associated with ruminal pH in high-producing dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet. Seventy-eight individually fed lactating dairy cows (days in milk = 103 ± 27; body weight = 638 ± 77 kg at the start; mean ± SD) were fed a diet consisting of 35% forage and 65% concentrate (dry matter basis). Cows were adapted for 14 d and then were sampled for 10 d. Ruminal pH was measured by rumenocentesis for all cows at the end of the study 4 h after feeding, and reticular pH was measured on a subsample of 14 cows via indwelling sensors for 5 consecutive days. Cows were classified according to rumenocentesis pH as high (pH ≥ 6.0; n = 26), medium (5.8 ≤ pH < 6; n = 21), and low (pH < 5.8; n = 31). Cows were also classified according to reticular pH as high if pH <5.8 persisted <330 min/d (an average of 78 min/d; n = 5) or low if duration of pH <5.8 was ≥330 min/d (an average of 920 min/d; n = 9). The classification based on rumenocentesis pH revealed that serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was greater in cows with low ruminal pH (70.7 U/L) than cows with high (56.6 U/L) and medium (59.9 U/L) ruminal pH. Also, the blood urea nitrogen concentration was greater in cows with low ruminal pH (13.6 mg/dL) than cows with medium (12.2 mg/dL) and high (12.5 mg/dL) ruminal pH. Blood albumin concentration was greater for cows with low ruminal pH than for cows with medium and high ruminal pH. The classification based on reticular pH also resulted in a trend of greater AST activity and greater blood urea nitrogen concentration in the blood of cows with low pH. Regression analysis showed high serum concentration of AST was associated with high valerate concentration in ruminal fluid (R2 = 0.14), low rumenocentesis pH (R2 = 0.10), and low milk fat percentage (R2 = 0.06). Glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, globulin, alkaline phosphates, and serum amyloid A did not differ among the different ruminal pH classes. Low pH cows (reticular and ruminal) had less backfat thickness measured via ultrasound, and cows with low ruminal pH tended to have greater milk:feed ratio. Results indicated that cows that differ in ruminal pH also had different concentrations of blood metabolites and backfat thickness, and AST activity in blood may be a plausible indicator of ruminal pH in dairy cows. Further studies on the applicability of AST in blood as a biomarker for detecting low ruminal pH in dairy cows are warranted.

An ethical framework for evaluation of public health plans: a systematic process for legitimate and fair decision-making.

OBJECTIVES: Given the increasing threats of communicable and non-communicable diseases, it is necessary for policy-makers and public health (PH) professionals to address ethical issues in health policies and plans. This study aimed to develop a practical framework for the ethical evaluation of PH programs. STUDY DESIGN: A multidisciplinary team developed an ethical framework to evaluate PH plans from 2015 to 2017. METHODS: In this study, the multi-method approach was used. First, a list of moral norms in PH policy and practice was drafted and completed in two interactive sessions. Then, the Delphi method was used for consensus about the structural components to be adopted in the framework. After developing the framework, its efficiency was assessed by evaluating Iran's Fourth Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control. RESULTS: The framework was developed in the following three sections: (i) determination of the general moral norms in PH practice and policy; (ii) five steps of evaluation; and (iii) a procedural evaluation step to ensure fair decision-making. The ratio of the ethical points of the PH plan increased by 46% after implementation of the framework, and the frequency of ethical points increased significantly after applying the framework (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The application of the framework for the ethical evaluation of various PH programs ensures a comprehensive and scientific-deliberative decision-making process, while also contributing to the development of the framework.

Effects of vanadium supplementation on performance, some plasma metabolites and glucose metabolism in Mahabadi goat kids.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of vanadium (V) supplementation on performance, some plasma metabolites (cholesterol and triglycerides) and glucose metabolism in Mahabadi goat kids. Twenty-eight male kids (15 ± 2 kg body weight) were fed for 14 weeks in a completely randomized design with four treatments. Treatments were supplemented with 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3 mg V as vanadyl sulfate/animal/daily. On day 70, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted. Dry matter intake did not change by V supplementation, but adding V quadraticaly improved feed efficiency (p = .03) and tended to increase average daily gain (Quadratic, p = .09). Blood metabolites were unaffected by V supplementation, except for concentration of glucose in plasma, which decreased linearly as supplemental V level increased (p = .02). Plasma glucose concentrations at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after glucose infusion were decreased in a quadratic fashion in response to increasing supplemental V level (p < .01). The IVGTT indicated that the kids supplemented with 2 mg V had higher glucose clearance rate (K) and lower glucose half-life (T½ ; p < .05). Glucose area under the response curve from 0 to 60 min and 0 to 180 min after glucose infusion were decreased linearly (p = .04) by supplemental V. The results suggested that moderate supplementation of V may improve glucose utilization and feed efficiency in fattening kids.

Co-transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells through cerebral spinal fluid for the treatment of patients with chronic spinal cord injury: safety and possible outcome.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a clinical trial (phase 1). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to asses the safety and feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and Schwann cell (SC) co-injection through cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) for the treatment of patients with chronic spinal cord injury. METHODS: Six subjects with complete spinal cord injury due to trauma according to International Standard of Neurological Classification for Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) developed by the American Spinal Injury Association were enrolled. They received autologous co-transplantation of MSC and SC through lumbar puncture. Neurological status of the patients was determined by ISNCSCI, as well as by assessment of functional status by Spinal Cord Independent Measure. Before and after cell transplantation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for all the patients. Before the procedure, all the patients underwent electromyography, urodynamic study (UDS) and MRI tractograghy. After transplantation, these assessments were performed in special cases when the patients reported any changes in motor function or any changes in urinary sensation. RESULTS: Over the mean 30 months of follow-up, the radiological findings were unchanged without any evidence of neoplastic tissue overgrowth. American Spinal Injury Association class in one patient was changed from A to B, in addition to the improvement in indexes of UDS, especially bladder compliance, which was congruous with axonal regeneration detected in MRI tractography. No motor score improvement was observed among the patients. CONCLUSION: No adverse findings were detected at a mean of 30 months after autologous transplantation of the combination of MSCs and SCs through CSF. It may suggest the safety of this combination of cells for spinal cord regeneration.

Covid-19 in Parkinson's Disease treated by drugs or brain stimulation.

PURPOSE: Covid-19 has affected all people, especially those with chronic diseases, including Parkinson's Disease (PD). Covid-19 may affect both motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of PD patients. We intend to evaluate different aspects of Covid-19 impact on PD patients. METHODS: 647 PD patients were evaluated in terms of PD-related and Covid-19-related clinical presentations in addition to past medical history during the pandemic through an online questioner. They were compared with an age-matched control group consist of 673 individuals and a sample of the normal population consist of 1215 individuals. RESULTS: The prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients was 11.28%. The mortality was 1.23% among PD patients. The prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients who undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was 18.18%. No significant association was found between the duration of disease and the prevalence of Covid-19. A statistically significant higher prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients who had direct contact with SARS-CoV-19 infected individuals was found. No statistically significant association has been found between the worsening of motor symptoms and Covid-19. PD patients and the normal population may differ in the prevalence of some psychological disorders, including anxiety and sleeping disorders, and Covid-19 may affect the psychological status. CONCLUSION: PD patients possibly follow tighter preventive protocols, which lead to lower prevalence and severity of Covid-19 and its consequences in these patients. Although it seems Covid-19 does not affect motor and psychological aspects of PD as much as it was expected, more accurate evaluations are suggested in order to clarify such effects.

Review of the relationship between milk urea nitrogen and days in milk, parity, and monthly temperature mean in Iranian Holstein cows.

The objectives of this study were to determine the relationships between milk urea N and days in milk, parity, and season in Iranian Holstein cows. Twelve Iranian commercial dairy herds participated in a 13-mo study from December 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009. All cows were milked 3 times daily, housed in freestalls, and fed a total mixed ration twice a day. Mean milk urea N over the study period was 16.0mg/dL. Mean milk urea N, categorized by 30-d increments of days in milk, paralleled changes in milk values and followed a curvilinear shape. However, milk urea N concentration reached a maximum at the fifth month of days in milk, but milk production reached a maximum at the third month. The concentration of milk urea N was lower during the first 30 d in milk category compared with all other days in milk categories. Overall mean milk urea N concentration of Holstein cows in the third and greater lactations was lower than in the first or second lactation. Milk urea N was at its lowest level in December (13 mg/dL), increased in the spring and summer months, and reached a maximum in July (18.8 mg/dL). From that point, milk urea N concentration progressively diminished to the autumn-winter level. In this study, milk urea N concentration was positively correlated with monthly temperature mean and may be a reason for the lower reproductive performance during the summer months. It has been recommended that milk urea N concentration should be evaluated in association with parity, days in milk, and season (or month). These variables should be considered potential sources of misinterpretation when exploring the relationship between milk urea N and nutritional management or measures of performance.

Spatio-temporal analysis of COVID-19 incidence rate using GIS: a case study-Tehran metropolitan, Iran.

COVID-19 has been distinguished as a zoonotic coronavirus, like SARS coronavirus and MERS coronavirus. Tehran metropolis, as the capital of Iran, has a high density of residents that experienced a high incidence and mortality rates which daily increase the number of death and cases. In this study, the IDW (Inverse Distance Weight), Hotspots, and GWR (Geography Weighted Regression) Model are used as methods for analyzing big data COVID-19 in Tehran. The results showed that the majority of patients and deaths were men, but the death rate was higher in women than in men; also was observed a direct relationship between the area of the houses, and the infected rate, to COVID-19. Also, the results showed a disproportionate distribution of patients in Tehran, although in the eastern regions the number of infected people is higher than in other districts; the eastern areas have a high population density as well as residential land use, and there is a high relationship between population density in residential districts and administrative-commercial and the number of COVID-19 cases in all regions. The outputs of local R2 were interesting among patients and underlying disorders; the local R2 between hypertension and neurological diseases was 0.91 and 0.79, respectively, which was higher than other disorders. The highest rates of local R2 for diabetes and heart disease were 0.67 and 0.55, respectively. From this study, it can be concluded the restrictions must be considered especially, in areas densely populated for all people.

Covid-19 in Parkinson's Disease treated by drugs or brain stimulation.

PURPOSE: Covid-19 has affected all people, especially those with chronic diseases, including Parkinson's Disease (PD). Covid-19 may affect both motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of PD patients. We intend to evaluate different aspects of Covid-19 impact on PD patients. METHODS: 647 PD patients were evaluated in terms of PD-related and Covid-19-related clinical presentations in addition to past medical history during the pandemic through an online questioner. They were compared with an age-matched control group consist of 673 individuals and a sample of the normal population consist of 1215 individuals. RESULTS: The prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients was 11.28%. The mortality was 1.23% among PD patients. The prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients who undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was 18.18%. No significant association was found between the duration of disease and the prevalence of Covid-19. A statistically significant higher prevalence of Covid-19 in PD patients who had direct contact with SARS-CoV-19 infected individuals was found. No statistically significant association has been found between the worsening of motor symptoms and Covid-19. PD patients and the normal population may differ in the prevalence of some psychological disorders, including anxiety and sleeping disorders, and Covid-19 may affect the psychological status. CONCLUSION: PD patients possibly follow tighter preventive protocols, which lead to lower prevalence and severity of Covid-19 and its consequences in these patients. Although it seems Covid-19 does not affect motor and psychological aspects of PD as much as it was expected, more accurate evaluations are suggested in order to clarify such effects.

Effects of two new formulas of dietary buffers with a high buffering capacity containing Na or K on performance and metabolism of mid-lactation dairy cows.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two new formulas of dietary buffers on intake, total tract digestibility, rumen pH, blood metabolites, and milk production of mid-lactation dairy cows. Nine multiparous cows (594 ± 46 kg BW; mean ± SD) averaging 120 ± 28 days in milk and producing 46.6 ± 3.4 kg/d were randomly assigned to a triplicate 3 × 3 Latin square. During each 21-d period, cows were offered one of three total mixed rations that varied in dietary buffer. The three types of dietary buffer were 1) 11.2 g/kg of dietary dry matter (DM) sodium bicarbonate (SB; control), 2) 8.7 g/kg of dietary DM high buffering capacity formula contained Na (HBNa), and 3) 7.4 g/kg of dietary DM high buffering capacity formula contained K (HBK). Each period was comprised of 14 d of dietary adaptation followed by 7 d of sampling. Measured buffering capacity was 102, 150 and 137 percent of NaHCO3 for SB, HBNa and HBK, respectively. The amount of Na and K were 270 and 0, 310 and 0, and 250 and 60 g/kg for SB, HBNa, and HBK, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI) tended (P = 0.06) to be lower with HBK (20.6 kg/d) than SB (21.0 kg/d) and HBNa (21.2 kg/d). No treatment effects were observed on rumen pH (averaged 5.88) and DM digestibility in the total digestive tract (averaged 79.4%). Yields of actual milk (38.1 kg/d) and 3.5% fat corrected milk (31.6 kg/d) were not affected by treatments, whereas yields of solid corrected milk (P = 0.07) and milk fat (P = 0.10) tended to be greater with HBK than SB and HBNa. Milk fat concentration in cows fed HBK was greater than in cows fed other treatments (32.5 vs. 29.5 and 29.6 g/kg; P = 0.04). Concentration of milk protein (32.2 vs. 30.6 g/kg) and lactose (46.8 vs. 44.4 g/kg) also were greater in cows fed HBK than those fed SB (P = 0.02). Efficiency of milk production was greater in cows fed HBK than SB (1.86 vs. 1.80; P = 0.01), whereas efficiency of solid corrected milk production was greater in HBK than SB and HBNa (1.64 vs. 1.51 and 151; P = 0.02). Blood concentration of Ca was higher with HBK compared with SB and HBNa (10.4 vs. 9.7 and 9.9 mg/dL, respectively; P = 0.01). These results indicated that under the current experimental condition, supplementation of dairy cow diet with a high buffering capacity buffer containing 60 g/kg K decreased DMI and improved milk composition and milk efficiency of mid-lactation dairy cows.

Effects of increasing diet fermentability on intake, digestion, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and milk production of heat-stressed dairy cows.

Heat stress is a major problem for dairy cows in hot climates, thus coping strategies are essential. This study evaluated the effects of increasing diet fermentability on intake, total tract digestibility, ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA) profile, blood metabolite profile and milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows managed under conditions of ambient heat stress. Nine multiparous cows (650 ± 56 kg BW; mean ± SD) averaging 102 ± 13 days in milk and producing 54 ± 6 kg/day were randomly assigned to a triplicate 3 × 3 Latin square. During each 21-day period, cows were offered one of three total mixed rations that varied in diet fermentability. The three levels of diet fermentability were achieved by increasing the proportion of pellets containing ground wheat and barley in the dietary DM from 11.7% (low), to 23.3% (moderate), and 35.0% (high) by replacing ground corn grain. Each period had 14 day of adaptation and 7 day of sampling. The ambient temperature-humidity index ( ≥ 72) indicated that the cows were in heat stress almost the entire duration of the study. Also, rectal temperature of cows was elevated at 39.2°C, another indication of heat stress. Increasing diet fermentability linearly decreased dry matter intake (22.8, 22.5, 21.8 kg/day for low, moderate and high, respectively; P ≤ 0.05) but increased non-fibre carbohydrate digestibility (P ≤ 0.05) and tended to increase digestibility of DM (P = 0.10) and crude protein (P = 0.06). As a result, the intake of digestible DM was not affected by the treatments. The production of 3.5% fat corrected milk (32.6, 33.7, and 31.5 kg/day) was quadratically (P ≤ 0.05) affected by diet fermentability with lower production for the high diet compared with the other two, which were similar. Rumen pH (ruminocentesis) and proportions of butyrate and isovalerate linearly decreased whereas propionate proportion linearly increased with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05). The rumen concentration of NH3-N (11.0, 9.0, and 8.7 mg/dL) and blood concentration of urea linearly decreased with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase increased (65.1, 83.2, and 84.9 U/l) and concentration of malondialdehyde decreased (2.39, 1.90 and 1.87 µmol/l) linearly with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05), which indicated possible attenuation of the effects of oxidative stress with increasing diet fermentability. Overall, a modest increase of diet fermentability improved nitrogen metabolism, milk protein production and oxidative stress of heat-stressed dairy cows, but a further increase in diet fermentability decreased milk yield.

Pathodiagnostic parameters for meningioma grading.

Meningiomas are usually slow-growing benign tumors, for which complete removal can be difficult and recurrence is an issue. In this study the relationship between pathodiagnostic parameters, histological grade, and MIB-1 monoclonal antibody expression in meningioma diagnosed over 10 years in Shohada Hospital, Tehran, was assessed. All cases were re-evaluated according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Classification. Between January 1997 and December 2006, a total of 4885 intracranial tumors were diagnosed at Shohada Hospital, 378 (7.74%) of which were meningiomas. All slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin were reviewed by two independent pathologists and all the diagnoses reconfirmed; histological anaplasia was classified according to the grading of the WHO Working Group 2000 as benign (Grade I), atypical with incipient signs of anaplasia (Grade II), or overtly anaplastic (Grade III). The mean age of patients with meningiomas was 49.11+/-12.99 years (range 6-78 years, median=50); females outnumbered males by a ratio of 1.7 to 1. Presenting symptoms were headache/vertigo (66.7%) and epilepsy (28.5%). Convexity meningiomas were most common, followed by meningiomas of the sphenoid ridge and cerebellopontine angle. There was no relationship between the location of the tumor and the histopathological features. The association between mitotic rate, increased cellularity, nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, and sheet-like spreading was especially strong. Histopathological study of completely resected meningiomas showed that loss of architecture, frequent mitotic figures, a high cellularity, increased nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, a prominent nucleolus, brain invasion, and necrosis were correlated with the grade of the meningiomas. Overall, the mitotic count was the most important marker for tumor grade.

Public member dose assessment of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant under normal operation by modeling the fallout from stack using the HYSPLIT atmospheric dispersion model.

In this work, public dose resulting from fission products released from Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) under normal operation is assessed. Due to the long range transport of radionuclides in this work (80 km) and considering terrain and meteorological data, HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYsplit) model, which uses three dimensional long-range numerical models, has been employed to calculate atmospheric dispersion. Annual effective dose calculation is carried out for inhalation, ingestion, and external exposure pathways in 16directions and within 80 km around the site for representative person. The results showed the maximum dose of inhalation and external exposure for adults is 3.8 × 10-8Sv/y in the SE direction and distance of 600 m from the BNPP site which is less than ICRP 103 recommended dose limit (1 mSv). Children and infants' doses are higher in comparison with adults, although they are less than 1 mSv. Ingestion dose percentage in the total dose is less than 0.1%. The results of this study underestimate the Final Safety Analysis Report ofBNPP-1 (FSAR)data.

The Effect of Level of Heterozygosity on the Performance of Hybrids between Isogenic Lines of Barley.

Sixteen "isogenic" lines of Atlas 46 barley differing in one to four short chromosome segments, and 16 heterozygotes obtained by crossing these lines to male-sterile Atlas, were used to study the effect of level of heterozygosity on performance. In field tests conducted in four environments (two planting dates in two years) significant differences were found among the homozygous isogenic lines for the traits seed yield, kernel weight, tiller number, plant height, and heading time; thus each of the marked chromosome segments carries genes which, when homozygous, affect these quantitative characters. It was also found that heterozygotes produced more and heavier kernels and were taller and earlier than homozygotes but there was no clear indication that the degree of heterosis increased as the number of heterozygous segments increased from one to five. Degree of heterosis was, however, strongly affected by the environment, by allelic state at each segment (especially the segment marked by the two-row, six-row spike locus), and also by genotype for other marked segments. These results indicate that heterosis in barley has a more complex structure than can be adequately represented by simple models, such as the multiplicative model in which fitnesses are the product of fitnesses at individual loci, or threshold models in which optimum fitness is approached asymptotically as the number of heterozygous loci increases.

Effects of Cr methionine on glucose metabolism, plasma metabolites, meat lipid peroxidation, and tissue chromium in Mahabadi goat kids.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of chromium methionine (Cr-Met) on glucose metabolism, blood metabolites, meat lipid peroxidation, and tissue chromium (Cr) in Mahabadi goat kids. Thirty-two male kids (16.5 ± 2.8 kg BW, 4-5 months of age) were fed for 90 days in a completely randomized design with four treatments. Treatments were supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg Cr as Cr-Met/animal/daily. Blood samples were collected via heparin tubes from the jugular vein on 0, 21, 42, 63, and 90 days of experiment. On day 70, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted. At the end of the feeding trial, the kids were slaughtered, and the liver, kidney, and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle samples were collected. Plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations were decreased by Cr supplementation (P < 0.05). LD muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased, and plasma and tissue Cr contents increased with increasing supplemental Cr levels (P < 0.05). Plasma glucose concentrations at 30 and 60 min after glucose infusion were lower in the kids fed 1.5 mg Cr diet than the kids fed control diet (P < 0.05). The IVGTT indicated that the kids supplemented with 1.5 mg Cr had higher glucose clearance rate (K) and lower glucose half-life (T½; P < 0.05). Glucose area under the response curve (AUC) from 0 to 180 min after glucose infusion was decreased linearly (P < 0.01) by supplemental Cr. The results suggested that supplemental Cr may improve glucose utilization and lipid oxidation of meat in fattening kid.

Effects of dietary pomegranate seed pulp on oxidative stability of kid meat.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) on meat color and lipid stability of kids. Thirty-two Mahabadi male kids were randomly assigned to one of four diets with different levels of PSP: 1 - diet without PSP (Control), 2 - diet containing 5% PSP (PSP5), 3 - diet containing 10% PSP (PSP10), and 4 - diet containing 15% PSP (PSP15). The kids were slaughtered at the end of the study and m. longissimus lumborum (LL) was sampled. The TBARS values of both raw and cooked meat were decreased (P<0.0001) by increasing levels of PSP in the diet. The meat of kids fed PSP15 showed higher a* and C* values (P<0.01) and lower H* and b* values (P<0.001), than kids fed with Control diet. The results of this experiment indicated that replacing barley and corn grains with PSP in the diet may improve the color and lipid stability of kid meat.

Grain source and marginal changes in forage particle size modulate digestive processes and nutrient intake of dairy cows.

This study investigated the effects of, and interactions between, dietary grain source and marginal changes in alfalfa hay (AH) particle size (PS) on digestive processes of dairy cows. A total of eight Holstein dairy cows (175 days in milk) were allocated in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 21-day periods. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of theoretical PS of AH (fine = 15 mm or long = 30 mm) each combined with two different sources of cereal grains (barley grain alone or barley plus corn grain in a 50 : 50 ratio). Results showed that cows consuming diets supplemented with corn had greater dry matter and nutrient intakes (P < 0.01), independent of forage PS. In addition, the apparent digestibility of fiber fractions was greater for diets supplemented with corn (P = 0.01). The feeding of barley grain-based diets was associated with greater apparent digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates, and this variable was even greater when long AH was fed (P = 0.04). Moreover, the feeding of long AH resulted in longer time spent eating (P = 0.03) and higher pH (P < 0.01), as well as a tendency for higher acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen fluid (P = 0.06) at 3 h post feeding. In conclusion, the results indicated that the marginal increase of PS of AH may prolong eating time and improve rumen fermentation, particularly in diets based on barley grain. Partial substitution of barley grain by corn can improve feed intake and fiber digestibility in mid-lactation dairy cows.

Profound alterations in the intrinsic excitability of cerebellar Purkinje neurons following neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP)-induced ataxia in rat: new insights into the role of small conductance K+ channels.

Alterations in the intrinsic properties of Purkinje cells (PCs) may contribute to the abnormal motor performance observed in ataxic rats. To investigate whether such changes in the intrinsic neuronal excitability could be attributed to the role of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)), whole cell current clamp recordings were made from PCs in cerebellar slices of control and ataxic rats. 3-AP induced profound alterations in the intrinsic properties of PCs, as evidenced by a significant increase in both the membrane input resistance and the initial discharge frequency, along with the disruption of the firing regularity. In control PCs, the blockade of small conductance K(Ca) channels by UCL1684 resulted in a significant increase in the membrane input resistance, action potential (AP) half-width, time to peak of the AP and initial discharge frequency. SK channel blockade also significantly decreased the neuronal discharge regularity, the peak amplitude of the AP, the amplitude of the afterhyperpolarization and the spike frequency adaptation ratio. In contrast, in ataxic rats, both the firing regularity and the initial firing frequency were significantly increased by the blockade of SK channels. In conclusion, ataxia may arise from alterations in the functional contribution of SK channels, to the intrinsic properties of PCs.

(86)Y production via (86)Sr(p,n) for PET imaging at a cyclotron.

Excitation functions of (86)Y production via (86)Sr(p,xn), (86)Sr(d,xn), (85)Rb(alpha,xn), (85)Rb((3)He,xn), and (nat)Zr(d,alphaxn) reactions were studied by means of ALICE-ASH code and the results were compared with ALICE-91 code and experimental data. The greatest nuclear reaction of cyclotron (86)Y production was found out as (86)Sr(p,n)(86)Y process. (86)Y production yield was calculated too. A SrCO(3) thick film was deposited on a copper substrate by sedimentation method. The deposited (nat)SrCO(3) was irradiated with 15MeV proton at 30microA current beam. The separation of Y from Cu and Sr was carried out by means of dual ion exchange chromatography.

Road traffic injuries in Iran: the role of interventions implemented by traffic police.

INTRODUCTION: In Iran there are about 70 deaths per day from road traffic injuries (RTIs). Despite some interventions having been implemented during the past 5 years, the impacts of these interventions on mortality and morbidity rates have not been well evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain and describe the epidemiological pattern of RTIs in Iran for the years 2004 to 2007 and to compare the epidemiological trends of RTIs, before and 2 years after four road safety programs were put into place. METHODS: A 4-year database from two sources, the traffic police and medico-legal data, was employed. The morbidity and death rates per 10,000 vehicles and per 100,000 populations were calculated as were the odds ratios (ORs) for before and after these national interventional programs. The four interventions concurrently/simultaneously put into place in 2005 were (1) enforcement of laws on the mandatory fastening of seat belts, (2) enforcement of the laws on use of motorcycle helmets, (3) enforcement of general traffic laws, and (4) mass media educational campaigns on national radio and television. FINDINGS: There was a significant decrease in RTI-related death and morbidity rates in Iran, after the intervention programs were conducted (P < 0.001). The death rate decreased from 38.2 per 100,000 in 2004 to 31.8 in 2007 (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.82-0.85). The death rate per 10,000 vehicles also showed a significant decline from 24.2 to 13.4 (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.55-0.57). Similar reductions were seen among nonfatal RTIs. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the role of traffic police interventions, initiated simultaneously on a national level, in RTI prevention. Though these reductions may not be solely attributable to the interventions implemented, they do highlight the importance of the contribution made by law enforcement and mass education campaigns.