The importance of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate feeding times in improving xanthan production by Xanthomonas citri.

Xanthan gum is a microbial polysaccharide produced by Xanthomonas and widely used in various industries. To produce xanthan gum, the native Xanthomonas citri-386 was used in a cheese-whey-based culture medium. The culture conditions were investigated in batch experiments based on the response surface methodology to increase xanthan production and viscosity. Three independent variables in this study included feeding times of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate. The maximum xanthan gum production and viscosity within 120 h by X. citri-386 using Box-Behnken design were 25.7 g/l and 65 500 cP, respectively, with a 151% and 394% increase as compared to the control sample. Overall, the findings of this study recommend the use of X. citri-386 in the cheese-whey-based medium as an economical medium with optimal amounts of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate for commercial production of xanthan gum on an industrial scale. The adjustment of the pyruvate and acetate concentrations optimized xanthan gum production in the environment.

Assessing optimal frequency for image acquisition in computer vision systems developed to monitor feeding behavior of group-housed Holstein heifers.

Computer vision systems have emerged as a potential tool to monitor the behavior of livestock animals. Such high-throughput systems can generate massive redundant data sets for training and inference, which can lead to higher computational and economic costs. The objectives of this study were (1) to develop a computer vision system to individually monitor detailed feeding behaviors of group-housed dairy heifers, and (2) to determine the optimal frequency of image acquisition to perform inference with minimal effect on feeding behavior prediction quality. Eight Holstein heifers (96 ± 6 d old) were housed in a group and a total of 25,214 images (1 image every second) were acquired using 1 RGB camera. A total of 2,209 images were selected and each animal in the image was labeled with its respective identification (1-8). The label was annotated only on animals that were at the feed bunk (head through the feed rail). From the labeled images, 1,392 were randomly selected to train a deep learning algorithm for object detection with YOLOv3 ("You Only Look Once" version 3) and 154 images were used for validation. An independent data set (testing set = 663 out of the 2,209 images) was used to test the algorithm. The average accuracy for identifying individual animals in the testing set was 96.0%, and for each individual heifer from 1 to 8 the accuracy was 99.2, 99.6, 99.2, 99.6, 99.6, 99.2, 99.4, and 99.6%, respectively. After identifying the animals at the feed bunk, we computed the following feeding behavior parameters: number of visits (NV), mean visit duration (MVD), mean interval between visits (MIBV), and feeding time (FT) for each heifer using a data set composed by 8,883 sequential images (1 image every second) from 4 time points. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.39, 0.78, 0.48, and 0.99, and the root mean square error (RMSE) were 12.3 (count), 0.78, 0.63, and 0.31 min for NV, MVD, MIBV, and FT, respectively, considering 1 image every second. When we moved from 1 image per second to 1 image every 5 (MIBV) or 10 (NV, MDV, and FT) s, the R2 observed were 0.55 (NV), 0.74 (MVD), 0.70 (MIBV), and 0.99 (FT); and the RMSE were 2.27 (NV, count), 0.38 min (MVD), 0.22 min (MIBV), and 0.44 min (FT). Our results indicate that computer vision systems can be used to individually identify group-housed Holstein heifers (overall accuracy = 99.4%). Based on individual identification, feeding behavior such as MVD, MIBV, and FT can be monitored with reasonable accuracy and precision. Regardless of the frequency for optimal image acquisition, our results suggested that longer time intervals of image acquisition would reduce data collecting and model inference while maintaining adequate predictive performance. However, we did not find an optimal time interval for all feeding behavior; instead, the optimal frequency of image acquisition is phenotype-specific. Overall, the best R2 and RMSE for NV, MDV, and FT were achieved using 1 image every 10 s, and for MIBV it was achieved using 1 image every 5 s, and in both cases model inference and data storage could be drastically reduced.

Loss of diurnal behavioral rhythms and impaired lipid metabolism in growing pigs with mistimed feeding.

The misalignment of eating time and the endogenous circadian rhythm impairs the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. Although it is well established that children and growing animals differ from adults in their energy metabolism and behavioral patterns, little is known about how mistimed feeding disturbs the diurnal rhythms of behavior and metabolism in children and growing diurnal animals. In this study, growing pigs (diurnal animal) were randomly assigned to the daytime-restricted feeding (DRF) and nighttime-restricted feeding (NRF) groups for 5 weeks. Compared with observations in the DRF group, NRF disrupted the diurnal rhythm of behavior and clock genes and lowered the serum ghrelin, dopamine, and serotonin levels during the daytime and nighttime. Microbiome analysis results suggested that NRF altered the diurnal rhythm and composition of the gut microbiota, and increased log-ratios of Catenibacterium:Butyrivibrio and Streptococcus:Butyrivibrio. Based on the serum proteome, the results further revealed that rhythmic and upregulated proteins in NRF were mainly involved in oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, immunity, and cancer biological pathways. Serum physiological indicators further confirmed that NRF decreased the concentration of melatonin and fibroblast growth factor 21 during the daytime and nighttime, increased the diurnal amplitude and concentrations of very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and total cholesterol, and increased the apolipoprotein B/ApoA1 ratio, which is a marker of metabolic syndrome. Taken together, this study is the first to reveal that mistimed feeding disrupts the behavioral rhythms of growing pigs, reprograms gut microbiota composition, reduces the serum levels of hormones associated with fighting depression and anxiety, and increases the risk of lipid metabolic dysregulation.

Analysis of extrauterine growth retardation and related risk factors in 132 premature infants.

Objectives: To understand the incidence and related risk factors of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) in preterm infants. Methods: The clinical data of 132 premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal ward of Maternity and Child Health Care of Zaozhuang from July 2019 to June 2020 were collected. Children were divided into groups according to their birth gestational age (<32 weeks, 32~35 weeks and >35 weeks) and birth weight (<1-500 g, 1,500~2,500 g and >2,500 g). Treatment during hospitalization and follow-up after discharge were investigated by retrospective analysis. Incidence of EUGR in premature infants at discharge and the related risk factors leading to this complication, demonstrated by logistic multivariate regression analysis, were summarized. Results: When evaluated according to weight, length and head circumference, incidence of EUGR at discharge in premature infants were 36.36%, 41.67% and 21.97% respectively. Smaller gestational age and lower birth weight significantly correlated with higher incidence of EUGR at discharge (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that small gestational age, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, late first intestinal feeding, digestive system complications and respiratory system complications were independent risk factors for EUGR in premature infants discharged from hospital (P<0.05). Conclusions: The incidence of EUGR in premature infants at discharge is relatively high. Strengthening perinatal health care for pregnant women, reducing the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation and preterm birth, giving intestinal feeding as soon as possible after birth, and actively participating in preventing and treating postnatal complications are effective ways to reduce the incidence of EUGR at discharge.

Evaluation of an electronic system for monitoring dairy cow rumination in a grazing-based system.

This research aimed to compare the rumination time estimated by an electronic monitoring system with direct visual observations of the rumination of dairy cows in a grazing-based system. Also, it aimed to estimate the agreement between different time intervals of the direct visual observations. To that end, we have observed twelve lactating cows for 16 h a day for 11 days. Then, we compared the data provided by the HealthyCow24® software with the visual observations to use as reference. After that, we estimated the Pearson's correlation coefficients, the linear regression, and the Bland-Altman plot by using the SAS software. Results showed that the rumination data estimated by the HealthyCow24® software and the visual observations were highly correlated (0.81; P < 0.0001). In the Bland-Altman analysis, we observed that the average of the standard deviations between the visual observation and the electronic monitoring system was - 2.14 min during a 2-h period. The upper limit (95%) was 30.61 min/2 h and the lower limit (95%) was - 34.88 min/2 h. Moreover, visual observations at intervals of up to 15 min were correlated with the data estimated by the electronic monitoring system and observed at 5-min intervals. In conclusion, the Allflex SCR electronic monitoring system is efficient in measuring the rumination time of grazing cows. Also, direct visual observations with intervals no longer than 15 min are reliable when used for evaluating the behavior of cows without losing data accuracy.

Nutritional efficiency of feed-restricted F1 Holstein/Zebu cows during the middle third of lactation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of quantitative feed restriction on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, efficiency and feeding behavior, and productive performance in F1 Holstein/Zebu cows during the middle third of their lactation. METHODS: Sixty F1 Holstein/Zebu cows with 111.5 ± 11.75 days of lactation and an initial body weight (BW) of 499 ± 30 kg (mean ± SEM) were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with the following diet levels of feed restriction: 3.39%, 2.75%, 2.50%, 2.25% and 2.00% of BW, with 12 replications for each level.The experiment lasted for 63 days, of which each period lasted 21 days with the first 16 days for diet adaptation followed by 5 days for collection of data and samples. RESULTS: For each 1% of BW diet restriction, there was a decrease in dry matter intake of 5.26 kg/day (p &lt;0.01). There was no difference in daily milk production (p = 0.09) under the restriction levels of 3.39% to 2.0% of BW. When corrected for 3.5% fat, milk production declined (p = 0.05) 3.46 kg/day for each percentage unit of feed restriction. CONCLUSION: Restricting the feed supply for F1 Holstein/Zebu cows in the middle third of their lactation period altered nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and ingestive behavior but did not affect milk production or feed efficiency. However, considering the observed body weight loss and decrease in milk production corrected for 3.5% fat, restriction of no less than 2.5% BW is recommended.

Maternal supplementation with calcium varying with feeding time daily during late pregnancy affects lipid metabolism and transport of placenta in pigs.

To investigate effects of Ca level varying with feeding time daily in sows during late pregnancy on placental lipid metabolism and transport in pigs, sixty pregnant sows were assigned to 3 groups: the CON group was fed low-Ca diet with 11.25 g CaCO3 at 0600 h and 1500 h, H-L group was fed low-Ca diet with 22.5 g CaCO3 at 0600 h and low-Ca diet at 1500 h, and L-H group was fed low-Ca diet at 0600 h and low-Ca diet with 22.5 g CaCO3 at 1500 h, respectively. Serum from sows and umbilical cord and placenta were collected during delivery. Results showed that, compared with the CON group, H-L feeding significantly increased maternal serum total triglyceride (TG) and umbilical serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.05). The results showed that long chain fatty acid (FA) contents in placenta were significantly increased in H-L and L-H groups (P < 0.05). Experiments on genes involved in glycolipid metabolism showed that H-L or L-H feeding inhibited mRNA expression of GLUT3, GLUT4, FAS, FABP1, FABPpm, FAT/CD36, while activated the mRNA expression of FASD1, FASD2 and SCD in placenta (P < 0.05). In addition, experiments on genes involved in biological clock showed that L-H feeding sequence activated the mRNA expression of per1 and clock, while H-L and L-H feeding sequence inhibited mRNA expression of per2 in placenta (P < 0.05). It is concluded that maternal supplementation with Ca varying with feeding time daily during late pregnancy affects placental lipid metabolism and transport in pigs by regulating the mRNA expression related to lipid metabolism and the circadian clock.

[Complementary feeding time among 0-5 years old children in 2013 in China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe complementary feeding time among 0-5 years old children in 2013 in China. METHODS: Data was from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2013. A stratified multistage cluster sampling was used from 31 provinces( autonomous regions and municipalities) and selected 55 districts/counties. The study included 24 580 children aged 0-5 years. The basic situation and complementary feeding of children aged 0-5 years were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS: The average time for children aged 0-5 years in China to start complementary foods was 6. 1 months. The urban( 5. 7 months) was earlier than the rural( 6. 4 months), large cities, medium and small cities, general rural and poor rural areas were 5. 5, 5. 8, 6. 9 and 5. 5 months, respectively. The proportions of early complementary feeding( < 4 months) and late complementary feeding( > 9 months) were 10. 2 %( n = 2496) and 9. 5%( n = 2336), which were 7. 3% and 5. 5% respectively in urban area and 13. 1% and 13. 7%respectively in rural area. The proportions of early complementary feeding was the highest( 19. 6%) in poor rural areas, the proportions of late complementary feeding was the highest( 15%) in the general rural areas. The rate of introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods was 82. 3%, the urban( 89. 4%) was higher than the rural( 73. 6%), and it was the lowest( 63. 4%) in the poor rural areas. CONCLUSION: There were both early complementary feeding and late complementary feeding among 0-5 years children in China in 2013, and the regional difference were significant. It is more likely to add complementary foods too early or too late in rural areasthan in urban areas, especially in poor rural areas.

[Effects of high-sucrose/high-fat diet feeding time on establishment of a mouse model of gestational diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: The present study focuses on the effects of different highsucrose/high-fat diet feeding time on body weight, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters and pathological changes of pancreas and liver in pregnant mice. METHODS: Female C57 BL/6 J mice were divided into three groups randomly: normal control group( C) and two different high-sucrose/high-fat diet feeding time groups( H1 and H2). Body weight, food and energy intakes and blood glucose were measured at multiple time points before and during pregnancy. At the 17 thday of pregnancy, the mice were killed after blood collection. The parameters about glucose and lipid metabolism and serum insulin level were studied. Meanwhile, pancreas and liver tissues were collected for pathological examination. RESULTS: The body weight of group H1 and group H2 were respectivelyhigher than that of group C at multiple time points before pregnancy. With the increase of high-sucrose/high-fat diet feeding time, the tendency of body weight during pregnancy was showed as: group H2 > group H1 > group C. At the 10 thday of pregnancy, the tendency of blood glucose level was showed as: group H2 > group H1 > group C. At the 17 thday of pregnancy, there was no significant difference in blood glucose and insulin levels among the three groups. However, with the increase of high-sucrose/high-fat diet feeding time, the score of ß-cell function had a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the LDL-C level in group H1 and group H2 was significantly higher than that in group C respectively. Histopathological observations showed that the morphological structures of pancreas and liver in group C were normal. However, hypertrophy of pancreatic islets and fatty deposition of liver were existed in the other two groups, and the pathological changes in group H2 were more serious than those in group H1. CONCLUSION: By controlling the feeding time of high-sucrose/high-fat diet, the progressive development of gestational diabetes mellitus in C57 BL/6 J mice could be observed roughly.

Synchronization to light and mealtime of daily rhythms of locomotor activity, plasma glucose and digestive enzymes in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The light-dark cycle and feeding can be the most important factors acting as synchronizers of biological rhythms. In this research we aimed to evaluate synchronization to feeding schedule of daily rhythms of locomotor activity and digestive enzymes of tilapia. For that purpose, 120 tilapias (65.0±0.6g) were distributed in 12 tanks (10 fish per tank) and divided into two groups. One group was fed once a day at 11:00h (zeitgeber time, ZT6) (ML group) and the other group was fed at 23:00h (ZT18) (MD group). The fish were anesthetized to collect samples of blood, stomach and midgut at 4-hour intervals over a period of 24h. Fish fed at ML showed a diurnal locomotor activity (74% of the total daily activity occurring during the light phase) and synchronization to the feeding schedule, as this group showed anticipation to the feeding time. Fish fed at MD showed a disruption in the pattern of locomotor activity and became less diurnal (59%). Alkaline protease activity in the midgut showed daily rhythm with the achrophase at the beginning of the dark phase in both ML and MD groups. Acid protease and amylase did not show significant daily rhythms. Plasma glucose showed a daily rhythm with the achrophase shifted by 12h in the ML and MD groups. These results revealed that the feeding time and light cycle synchronize differently the daily rhythms of behavior, digestive physiology and plasma metabolites in the Nile tilapia, which indicate the plasticity of the circadian system and its synchronizers.

Optimization performance of an AnSBBR applied to biohydrogen production treating whey.

The present study investigated the influence of the influent concentration of substrate, feeding time and temperature on the production of biohydrogen from cheese whey in an AnSBBR with liquid phase recirculation. The highest hydrogen yield (0.80 molH2.molLactose(-1)) and productivity (660 mLH2 L(-1) d(-1)) were achieved for influent concentrations of 5400 mgDQO L(-1). No significant difference was noted in the biological hydrogen production for the feeding time conditions analyzed. The lowest temperature tested (15 °C) promoted the highest hydrogen yield and productivity (1.12 molH2 molLactose(-1) and 1080 mLH2 L(-1) d(-1)), and for the highest temperature (45 °C), hydrogen production did not occur. The indicator values for the hydrogen production obtained with this configuration were higher than those obtained in other studies using traditional configurations such as UASBr and CSTR. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the majority of the analyzed clones were similar to Clostridium. In addition, clones phylogenetically similar to the Lactobacilaceae family, notably Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and clones with similar sequences to Acetobacter indonesiensis were observed in small proportion in the reactor.

Keeping circadian time with hormones.

Daily variations of metabolism, physiology and behaviour are controlled by a network of coupled circadian clocks, comprising a master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus and a multitude of secondary clocks in the brain and peripheral organs. Light cues synchronize the master clock that conveys temporal cues to other body clocks via neuronal and hormonal signals. Feeding at unusual times can reset the phase of most peripheral clocks. While the neuroendocrine aspect of circadian regulation has been underappreciated, this review aims at showing that the role of hormonal rhythms as internal time-givers is the rule rather than the exception. Adrenal glucocorticoids, pineal melatonin and adipocyte-derived leptin participate in internal synchronization (coupling) within the multi-oscillatory network. Furthermore, pancreatic insulin is involved in food synchronization of peripheral clocks, while stomach ghrelin provides temporal signals modulating behavioural anticipation of mealtime. Circadian desynchronization induced by shift work or chronic jet lag has harmful effects on metabolic regulation, thus favouring diabetes and obesity. Circadian deregulation of hormonal rhythms may participate in internal desynchronization and associated increase in metabolic risks. Conversely, adequate timing of endocrine therapies can promote phase-adjustment of the master clock (e.g. via melatonin agonists) and peripheral clocks (e.g. via glucocorticoid agonists).

Leptin expression is rhythmic in brain and liver of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Role of feeding time.

Daily rhythms of feeding regulators are currently arousing research interest due to the relevance of the temporal harmony of endocrine regulators for growth and welfare in vertebrates. However, it is unknown the leptin circadian pattern in fish. The aim of this study is to investigate if leptin (gLep-aI and gLep-aII) expression is rhythmic in goldfish (Carassius auratus) liver and brain, and if such rhythms are driven by feeding time through a food entrainable oscillator. Fish maintained under 12-h light:12-h dark photoperiod and a scheduled feeding time showed 24-h locomotor activity and glycaemia rhythms. Moreover, hepatic gLep-aI and brain gLep-aI and gLep-aII expression were rhythmic with different daily profiles, showing a postprandial increase of leptin expression in the liver but not in the brain. Under constant light and different feeding regimes (scheduled fed at 10:00, 22:00 or randomly fed), feeding time synchronized daily rhythms in locomotor activity, glycaemia and clock gene expression (gPer1a, gPer3 and gCry3), but the rhythmic expression of hepatic gLep-aI and brain gLep-aII only remained in fed fish at 10:00. In summary, daily rhythms of leptin expression in goldfish are differently regulated at central and peripheral level, and they are not directly driven by clock genes. The role of food entrained oscillators on leptin expression rhythms in fish remains to be demonstrated.

Estimating the Feeding Time of Individual Broilers via Convolutional Neural Network and Image Processing.

Feeding behavior is one of the critical welfare indicators of broilers. Hence, understanding feeding behavior can provide important information regarding the usage of poultry resources and insights into farm management. Monitoring poultry behaviors is typically performed based on visual human observation. Despite the successful applications of this method, its implementation in large poultry farms takes time and effort. Thus, there is a need for automated approaches to overcome these challenges. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the feeding time of individual broilers by a convolutional neural network-based model. To achieve the goal of this research, 1500 images collected from a poultry farm were labeled for training the You Only Look Once (YOLO) model to detect the broilers' heads. A Euclidean distance-based tracking algorithm was developed to track the detected heads, as well. The developed algorithm estimated the broiler's feeding time by recognizing whether its head is inside the feeder. Three 1-min labeled videos were applied to evaluate the proposed algorithm's performance. The algorithm achieved an overall feeding time estimation accuracy of each broiler per visit to the feeding pan of 87.3%. In addition, the obtained results prove that the proposed algorithm can be used as a real-time tool in poultry farms.

Reciprocal Interactions between Circadian Clocks, Food Intake, and Energy Metabolism.

Like other biological functions, food intake and energy metabolism display daily rhythms controlled by the circadian timing system that comprises a main circadian clock and numerous secondary clocks in the brain and peripheral tissues. Each secondary circadian clock delivers local temporal cues based on intracellular transcriptional and translational feedback loops that are tightly interconnected to intracellular nutrient-sensing pathways. Genetic impairment of molecular clocks and alteration in the rhythmic synchronizing cues, such as ambient light at night or mistimed meals, lead to circadian disruption that, in turn, negatively impacts metabolic health. Not all circadian clocks are sensitive to the same synchronizing signals. The master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus is mostly synchronized by ambient light and, to a lesser extent, by behavioral cues coupled to arousal and exercise. Secondary clocks are generally phase-shifted by timed metabolic cues associated with feeding, exercise, and changes in temperature. Furthermore, both the master and secondary clocks are modulated by calorie restriction and high-fat feeding. Taking into account the regularity of daily meals, the duration of eating periods, chronotype, and sex, chrononutritional strategies may be useful for improving the robustness of daily rhythmicity and maintaining or even restoring the appropriate energy balance.

Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Growth, Metabolism and Digestive Enzymes Synthesis of Goniopora columna.

Climate change is causing dramatic changes in global ocean temperature and salinity, threatening coral survival. Coral growth and metabolism are greatly affected by the temperature, salinity and feeding time of the environment. In order to explore the threats to coral survival caused by climate change, this study will investigate the changes in body composition, digestive enzymes and metabolism of G. columna at different temperatures and salinities. A maximum G. columna growth rate was observed at 25 °C and 30−35 psu salinity. The G. columna could survive in a wide salinity range of 25−40 psu. However, the maximum number and weight of G. columna polyps was determined at 30−35 psu. Furthermore, 30−35 psu salinity at 25 °C led to the best G. columna growth and survival, mainly because of their enhanced nutrient absorption rate, polyp expansion rate, metabolic rate and adaptability. Comparing various salinity-temperature treatment groups, all obtained values for growth, behavior and metabolism were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for 30 psu at 25 °C than other treatment groups resulting in maximum G. columna yield. In addition, the optimal timing of G. columna feeding was assessed by studying changes in body composition and digestive enzymes within 24 h of feeding. The results showed that G. columna has higher protein and protease activity between 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Therefore, at 25 °C, 30−35 psu and feeding will enhance G. columna growth and survival.

Behavioral and stress responses to feeding time in pregnant sows under limit-fed regime.

We investigated the effect of feeding time on behavior and stress responses in pregnant sows under isocaloric conditions. Twenty-four sows were balanced for parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 feeding times. Corn-soybean meal-based diet was fed once at: 0730 (Control, T1), 1130 (T2), and 1530 hours (T3). On average, sows received 7,062 kcal ME/d from 2.20 kg of diet formulated to contain SID Lys/ME of 1.71 g/Mcal. The study was conducted for 28 d (21 d acclimation to the feeding regime and 7 d data collection). Saliva samples were collected every 2 hr for 12 hr in stalls on day 52 of pregnancy. Behavior data were collected 24 hr for 7 d from day 53 of gestating by affixing a remote insights ear tag to each sow. Each sow had 120,960 data points categorized into: "Active," "Feed," or "Dormant". Due to housing constraint, all sows were housed in individual stalls in the same barn presenting a potential limitation of the study. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 for cortisol and behavior data, respectively. Sow was the experimental unit. The area under the curve (AUC) is quantitative evaluation of response as threshold varies over all possible values. A 12-hr cortisol total AUC for sows fed once daily at 1130 hours was reduced relative to sow group fed at 1530 hours (P = 0.046) but similar compared with the control sows (P = 0. 323). The control sows (0730 hours) had reduced total (P < 0.001) and feeding (P = 0.001) activity AUCs relative to sows on 1130 hours but did not differ compared with sows on 1530 hours feeding schedules (P > 0.100). Sows on 1130 hours feeding schedule had greater feed anticipatory activity, 24-hr total activity count, total (P < 0.001) and feeding (P < 0.001) activity AUC compared with sows fed daily at 1530 hours. In conclusion, feeding pregnant sows earlier in the morning (0730 hours) appears to minimize sows' behavior but similar cortisol response. Sows on 1130 hours feeding schedule had greater activities but reduced cortisol concentration, suggesting that elevated sow activity might not necessarily indicate activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Correlations between Antioxidant and Biochemical Parameters of Blood Serum of Duroc Breed Pigs.

Correlations between the major biochemical (BC) and antioxidant (TAWSA) parameters of pigs' blood are necessary to study in order to assess physiological-biochemical status (PhBS), animal health, production, etc. Blood samples were obtained from Duroc breed boars (n = 77), divided into groups 1 (n = 25), 2 (n = 40) and 3 (n = 12), which were fattened for 65, 72 and 100 days, respectively. Significant positive and negative correlations were found between TAWSA and BC parameters of pigs' blood for group 3: very high in the case of total protein (TP) (-0.75) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (-0.79); high in the case of cholesterol (-0.72), glucose (0.66), alkaline phosphatase (0.66), calcium ions (-0.60) and globulins (0.53); moderate in the case of albumins (-0.36), triglycerides (-0.35), magnesium (-0.32) and phosphorus (-0.27). The same was found for group 2: high in the case of TP (0.51); moderate in the case of globulins (0.48), cholesterol (0.33) and phosphates (0.25). The only moderate correlation was found for group 1: magnesium (-0.48), glucose (0.36) and calcium (-0.25). This tendency indicated the stabilization of pig PhBS during growth and fattening, which can be useful for understanding the PhBS and antioxidant features of pigs, the factors of their nutrition, maintenance, etc.

Nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding in pediatric acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare nasogastric (NG) feeding with nasojejunal (NJ) feeding when treating pediatric patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: We performed a single-center, prospective, randomized, active-controlled trial involving 77 pediatric patients with AP from April 2014 to December 2017. The patients were randomized into two groups: the NG tube feeding group (34 patients) and the NJ tube feeding group (33 patients). The primary outcome measures included the enteral nutrition intolerance, the length of tube feeding time, the recurrent pain of pancreatitis and complications. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients with AP (31 patients for each group) came into the final analysis. No differences were found in baseline characteristics, pediatric AP score and computed tomography severity score between the two groups. Three (9.7%) patients in the NG group and one (3.2%) patient in the NJ group developed intolerance (relative risk = 3.00, 95% confidence interval 0.33-27.29, P = 0.612). The tube feeding time and length of hospital stay of the NG group were significantly shorter than those of the NJ group (P = 0.016 and 0.027, respectively). No patient died in the trial. No significant differences were found in recurrent pain, complications, nutrition delivery efficacy, and side effects between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: NG tube feeding appears to be effective and safe for acute pediatric pancreatitis compared with NJ tube feeding. In addition, high qualified, large sample sized, randomized controlled trials in pediatric population are needed.

Effect of oscillating feeding time and corn processing on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of oscillating feeding time (OFT) and corn processing (CoP) on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. One hundred sixty-five steers (initial body weight [BW] 277.2 ± 27.80 kg) were blocked by initial BW and allotted to 24 pens. Pens within each block were randomly assigned based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The two factors were CoP (whole shelled corn vs. ground corn [GC]) and feeding time (FT) (constant FT vs. 2 hours OFT). Animals were fed the same diet, only changing the CoP method depending on the treatment. Feed offered and feed refusals were collected daily. Body weight was collected at starting day of the experiment (d1) and every 28 d until the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, animals were harvested in a commercial slaughter facility, and carcass data were collected by a USDA grader. Animal growth performance and carcass characteristics data were analyzed with the PROC Mixed procedure (SAS) using CoP, FT, and their interaction as fixed variables; and treatments × pen within each block and block were considered random variables. There was no CoP by FT interaction differences (P > 0.10) on animal growth performance variables, nor on hot carcass weight, back fat, rib eye area, or the percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat. There was a tendency for an interaction (P = 0.08) for marbling score, where the steers from the GC processing fed on the oscillating time had a lesser marbling score than the other three treatments. Oscillating feeding time improved (P = 0.05) average daily gain; but did not affect (P ≥ 0.11) dry matter intake (DMI), nor carcass characteristics compared with feeding at a similar time every day. There were no effects (P ≥ 0.11) of CoP on growth performance, nor carcass characteristics. In conclusion, a 2-hour oscillation in FT might not decrease steer feedlot performance. This may be due to the high degree of control of DMI with feed bunk management.