Does vitamin C supplementation in milk improve growth and health of diarrheic calves?

The objective of this study was to investigate how supplementing vitamin C (VC) in milk affects growth, starter intake, blood metabolites, and the health of young calves classified into healthy or diarrheic groups. Calves were classified as diarrheic if they experienced diarrhea for at least 3 days from birth to day 7, otherwise, they were classified as healthy (i.e., days with diarrhea < 3). From day 8 of age, a total of 48 Holstein calves were divided into four groups based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with calf health status (healthy or diarrheic) and VC supplementation (VC+ or VC-) to pasteurized milk (0 or 2 g/d; 50% purity) being the main experimental factors. Calves were fed equal amounts of milk until weaning (d 60). Calves continued to be monitored until they reached 74 days of age. Calves in the VC+ group were heavier at weaning (74.3 vs. 72.2 kg; P = 0.04) compared to those calves that did not receive VC. Blood total antioxidant capacity (d 53 and 67) and superoxide dismutase activity (d 53) were greater (P < 0.01) in VC+ vs. VC- calves. Calf health status and VC supplementation interacted (P = 0.03) for blood ß-hydroxybutyrate on d 53, with the lowest concentration observed in diarrheic/VC- calves. Calves in the diarrheic group had a lower total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.01) but a greater neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on d 53 and 67 (P < 0.01) than calves in the healthy group. Before weaning (d 53), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was greater, but hemoglobin was lower (P = 0.02) in calves classified into the diarrheic group that did not receive supplemental VC. The number of days medicated for diarrhea treatment was lower in VC+ calves than those in VC- group (1.73 vs. 2.47 days; P = 0.05). Overall, VC supplementation in pasteurized milk improved calf growth and health. Calves that experienced elevated episodes of diarrhea within the first week of life benefited more from supplemental VC than those classified into the healthy group.

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.

Impact of corn processing and weaning age on calf performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, and behavior.

This study examined the impact of two corn processing methods (steam-flaked (SFC) vs. ground) combined with two weaning ages (50 or 75 days) on calf performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestion, and behavior. The study involved 48 three-day-old Holstein calves, with an average body weight of 41.4 ± 2.2 kg. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, resulting in four treatment groups: SFC50 (SFC and weaning at 50 days), SFC75 (SFC and weaning at 75 days), GC50 (ground corn and weaning at 50 days), and GC75 (ground corn and weaning at 75 days). Calves were given whole milk at 4 L/ day from day 3-15 and 7 L/ day from day 16 to either 43 or 68, depending on weaning age. Weaning occurred between days 44 and 50 for early-weaned calves and between days 69 and 75 for late-weaned calves. The study lasted until calves were 93 days old. The starter ration consisted of soybean meal, corn grain, 5% chopped wheat straw and premix. Results indicated that the SFC-based starter feed improved calf performance and nutrient digestion, as evidenced by increased weight gain, dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Calves fed the SFC-based starter diet had lower blood albumin and urea N concentrations, while blood total protein and globulin concentrations were higher, especially in early-weaned calves. No significant changes in rumen pH and ammonia-N concentration were observed. In addition, the SFC starter feed resulted in higher volatile fatty acids concentration and longer feeding time in weaned calves compared to ground corn. Overall, these results suggest that an SFC-based starter feed may be beneficial for both early and late weaned calves.

Effects of fresh-cow grouping strategy and rumen-protected glucose on production performance, reproductive variables and risk of culling in Holstein cows.

BACKGROUND: The interaction effects of duration of stay in fresh-cow diet and supplementation with rumen-protected glucose (RPG) on productivity of dairy cows are largely unknown. We hypothesised that a faster transition from fresh-cow diet (higher forage:concentrate) to lactation-cow diet (lower forage:concentrate), combined with supplementation of fresh-cow diet with RPG will have positive effects on production and health of dairy cows. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the immediate and long-term effects of length of stay in fresh-cow diet and supplementation with RPG on productive and reproductive performance of high-producing dairy cows. METHODS: A total of 264 multiparous Holstein cows (average parity ± standard deviation = 3.2 ± 1.3, ranging from 2 to 6) were used in a 2 × 2 factorially arranged trial. Treatments were the feeding duration of a fresh-cow diet for 14 or 21 days, each combined by daily supplementation of the fresh-cow diet with ground corn grain or RPG product top dressed at 500 g/day/head. RESULTS: The earlier transition from fresh-cow to lactation diet resulted in greater milk production from 15 through 21 days in milk (DIM; by 2.28 kg/day), and also fat-corrected milk production on 30 and 60 DIM, respectively. Corn grain or RPG supplementation did not affect the average milk production (1 to 21 DIM), as well as milk production and composition on 30 and 60 DIM. Although extent of body condition loss at transition tended to be lesser in cows switching faster to lactation diet, these cows lost more body condition from 30 to 90 DIM. Survival analysis on calving-to-conception interval and time to removal from herd did not find any significant difference across treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The positive effects of earlier transition from fresh-cow to lactation diet were evident by greater milk production from 15 through 21 DIM, and fat-corrected milk production (30 and 60 DIM), at the expense of body condition in high-producing dairy cows. A daily topdress of RPG on fresh-cow diet had no immediate or carryover effects on production of dairy cows.

Effect of Different amounts of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Performance and Activity of Mucosal Enzymes in Japanese Quail from 1 to 21 Days of Age.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of varying quantities of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on growth performance and mucosal enzyme activity in Japanese quails at an early age. Using a completely randomized experimental design, 160 one-day-old quail chicks were randomly assigned to 4 experimental treatments and each treatment contained 4 replicate pens of 10 birds. The experimental treatments included T1: control (a basal diet containing 35.2 mg Zn only ), T2, T3, and T4 containing basal diet plus 20, 40, and 60 mg ZnO NPs, respectively. Performance characteristics were recorded weekly. After 21 days, one quail was selected and slaughtered from each experimental cage with a body weight equal to the average body weight of quails in the same experimental cage. After slaughtering and opening the abdominal cavity, a 5 cm sample was taken from the jejunum of the small intestine. The jejunum sample was stored at -80°C until the measurement of alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and lipase enzymes. The results showed that live weight was higher in the T3 and T4 groups than in the control group (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio was also lower in birds fed with basal diets supplemented with 40 and 60 mg ZnO NPs/kg (T3 and T4, respectively), compared to control treatments (P>0.05). The results showed that amylase and lipase activity increased in the birds fed with 40 and 60 mg ZnO NPs/kg of the basal diet, in comparison to the control treatment; however, they were not significant (P>0.05). The results of this study indicated that the addition of 40 or 60 mg ZnO NPs/kg to the basal diet could be used as a supplement to improve performance traits and enhance mucosal enzyme activity in Japanese quail in the starter stage.

Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal solids per day from high-solids milk and milk replacer blend once or twice daily combined with dry versus wet fine-particle starter diet.

This study examined the effects of frequency of feeding high-solids milk and milk replacer (MMR) blend combined with dry matter (DM) content of starter feed on the performance of dairy calves. Forty-eight Holstein calves (40.2 ± 3.33 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized design. Based on a combination of 2 MMR feeding frequencies (once versus twice daily) and 2 starter DM levels (91.1 and 50% DM), 4 treatments were designed as (1) once daily + dry starter feed (OD), (2) once daily + wet starter feed (OW), (3) twice daily + dry starter feed (TD), and (4) twice daily + wet starter feed (TW). The amount of milk replacer powder added to whole milk was adjusted at each feeding frequency to ensure that calves received similar solids from the MMR blend via the twice-daily (total solids = 18.6%) or once-daily (total solids = 31.0%) programs. Starter intake in the preweaning period did not differ between treatments (average 0.39 kg of DM/d), but the postweaning starter intake was greater in calves fed the wet starter (OW and TW) than in those fed the dry starter (OD and TD). Calves receiving the high-solids MMR blend twice versus once daily grew faster before weaning, which was reflected by a greater weaning weight in the TD and TW groups (88.9 kg) than in the OD and OW groups (83.2 kg). The daily growth rate after weaning did not differ between treatments and averaged 1.15 kg/d. Gain-to-feed ratio during the preweaning period was greater in calves from TD and TW (mean 0.67) than in calves from the OD or OW groups (mean 0.58). Postweaning gain-to-feed ratio was not different among treatments and averaged 0.38. Days to first diarrhea and duration of diarrhea (4.66 ± 0.38), as well as days that animals were treated with antibiotics, remained unaffected with treatments. Although preweaning body weight gain was lower with once-daily milk feeding, calves were twice as heavy at weaning as at birth in both milk feeding programs regardless of starter moisture content, which may qualify the once-daily milk feeding program as a cost-effective management strategy in commercial calf-rearing operations. Feeding solutions with a high solids content (above 15%) may be associated with an increased risk of abomasal bloat and should be used with caution.

Evaluation of safety, feasibility and efficacy of intra-ovarian transplantation of autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells in idiopathic premature ovarian failure patients: non-randomized clinical trial, phase I, first in human.

BACKGROUND: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is characterized by the loss of ovarian activity before the age of 40 years. Stem cell therapy has the capability to create a regenerative microenvironment and is a proposed treatment for POF-related infertility due to the presence of renewal folliculogenesis and germ cells in the adult ovaries. In this study, we assessed the safety, feasibility, efficacy and dose adjustment of autologous adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and their ability to improve ovarian function in POF patients. METHODS: This study was a non-randomized clinical trial, phase I. Nine women with a definitive diagnosis of POF were divided into three groups (n = 3 per group) that received either 5 × 106, 10 × 106, or 15 × 106 autologous ADSCs suspension transplanted in the one ovary. Participants were followed-up at 24 h after the transplantation, and at 1 and 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after the transplantation. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety of ADSCs transplantation. Secondary objectives included the effects of ADSCs transplantation on the resumption of menstruation, hormones level (Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone), ovarian function (Antral follicle count and ovary volume by ultrasonography evaluation) as well as dose escalation. RESULTS: Participants had not shown any early-onset possible side effects and secondary complications during follow-up. The menstruation resumption was observed in four patients which established for several months. In the 15 × 106 group, two POF patients had a return of menstruation second months after the intervention. Two other POF patients in 5 × 106 and 10 × 106 cell groups reported menstruation resumption at 1 month after the intervention. We observed decreased serum FSH levels of less than 25 IU/l in four patients. In two patients in 5 × 106 and 10 × 106 cell groups, serum FSH showed an inconsistent decline during a 1 year follow up after ADSCs transplantation. The ovarian volume, AMH, and AFC were variable during the follow-up and no significant differences between cell groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We showed the intra-ovarian embedding of ADSCs is safe and feasible and is associated with an inconsistent decline in serum FSH. This should be further investigated with a large RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02603744 , Registered 13 November 2015 - Retrospectively registered, http://www.Clinicaltrials.gov.

Poultry by-product meal as a replacement to xylose-treated soybean meal in diet of early- to mid-lactation Holstein cows.

The objectives were to compare the effectiveness of poultry by-product meal (PBM) with xylose-treated soybean meal (x-SBM) as a conventional protein source and rumen-undegraded protein (RUP):rumen-degraded protein (RDP) ratio on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, and production of early- to mid-lactation Holsteins. Twelve multiparous cows averaging (mean ± SD) 50 ± 9 days in milk were randomly assigned to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design within a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Each period was 28 days in length. Treatments were RUP sources (PBM or x-SBM) with either a high or a low RUP:RDP ratio (high ratio = 40:60 or low ratio = 36:64; based on % of crude protein (CP)). Experimental diets were balanced to be similar in protein and energy contents (CP = 16.7% of DM; NEL = 1.67 Mcal/kg DM). Prior to diet formulation, an in situ pilot experiment was conducted to estimate the RUP fractions of x-SBM and PBM as 63.9% and 54.1% of CP, respectively. Treatments had no effect on ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and molar percentage of individual VFAs. Treatments had no effect on total tract apparent digestibility of DM, OM, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), with the exception of N that was greater in diets with a low RUP:RDP ratio (68.2 vs. 70.1% of DM). DM consumption was 0.70 kg/day higher when cows were fed PBM diet compared with x-SBM diet. No treatment effect was observed on milk yield and milk composition; however, milk protein yield and milk urea N were greater in cows fed PBM. Inclusion of PBM in the diet in substitution to x-SBM resulted in increased blood levels of urea N, cholesterol, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). There was no interaction between the RUP source and the RUP:RDP ratio for urinary and fecal N excretion. Efficiency of N utilization expressed as milk N secretion as a proportion of N intake tended to be greater in cows fed PBM. Feeding diets with a low ratio of RUP:RDP increased efficiency of milk production expressed as milk yield as a proportion of total N excretion (fecal and urinary N). Feeding a diet with PBM supported milk production comparable with x-SBM and had positive effects on feed intake, milk protein yield, and milk N efficiency.

Short communication: Performance of Holstein calves fed high-solid milk with or without nucleotide.

Our initial hypothesis was that the exogenous supply of nucleotides to neonatal calves would improve the development and functionality of gastrointestinal tissue, thereby enhancing their capacity to efficiently digest and utilize the nutrients in high-solids milk. Twenty 3-d-old male Holstein calves (37.9 ± 2.24 kg of body weight) were distributed randomly to 1 of 2 treatments (1 calf per pen; 10 pens per treatment) without or with added nucleotides to their daily milk. Dry milk powder was added to pasteurized milk and offered as 4 L/d from d 3 to 15, 6 L/d from d 16 to 49 (at 0900 and 1600 h), and 2 L/d in morning feeding from d 50 to 55. High-solids milk (fat = 4.47%, protein = 4.64%, lactose = 8.13%, and total solids = 17.7%) was made through the addition of milk powder into whole milk and supplemented without or with 2 g/d of a commercially available nucleotide product, and then fed until weaning. Nucleotide supplementation had no effect on preweaning growth rate, but tended to increase postweaning daily weight gain (d 56-75). Unexpectedly, nucleotide supplementation tended to increase fecal score within the 10 d of calf life; thereafter (until weaning), no difference was detected in fecal consistency. Nucleotide supplementation tended to increase and increased pre- and postweaning dry matter intake, respectively. Efficiency of feed utilization (kilogram of weight gain per kilogram of dry matter intake) was not influenced with treatment. The net gain (d 1-70) of withers height and hip height tended to be greater in nucleotide-fed calves. Overall, addition of nucleotides to the high-solids milk had marginal effects on preweaning performance and tended to increase fecal scores (looser feces) in the initial phase of life; however, it increased starter feed intake and growth rate after weaning. A longer-feeding experiment is recommended to elucidate the potential effects of nucleotide supplementation in high-solids milk on calf performance.

The challenges of male nurses in the care of female patients in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Nurses professional duty mean that nurses must care for patients without gender discrimination. Meanwhile, the intrinsic differences between men and women and the need for personal contact with the patients during care procedures can create challenges for male nurses in the process of caring for a female patient. AIMS: The present study aims to understand the challenges of male nurses in the care of female patients in Iran. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 20 male nurses selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews as well as observations and were analysed using conventional content analysis, based on the Graneheim and Lundman model. FINDINGS: The findings revealed two main themes, including 'religious-cultural restrictions' and 'inappropriate organizational context'. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Male nurses are faced with a combination of religious-cultural and organizational challenges in providing patient care without discrimination in clinical settings. In addition to negatively affecting the quality of nursing care and satisfaction for female patients, these problems also create a stressful work environment for male nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH PRACTICE AND POLICY: These problems can be alleviated in clinical settings by trying to ensure same-gender nurses and patients, especially when performing personal care. In addition to the efforts made by nurses to present a positive and real image of themselves in caring for female patients, health policy-makers should also attempt to improve society's attitude towards male nurses caring for female patients through the media.

Performance and feeding behavior of dairy cows fed high-concentrate diets containing steam-flaked or ground corn varying in particle size.

Steam-flaked corn (SFC) and ground corn (GC) of different particle sizes were evaluated for their effects on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and components, chewing activity, ration sorting, ruminal fermentation, and digestibility in lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows in mid-lactation (46.6 ± 3.5 kg/d milk production and 101 ± 10 d in milk) were used in a double 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Cows were fed diets (dry matter basis) containing 36.2% forage (alfalfa hay and corn silage), 37.4% corn grain, and 26.4% other ingredients. The corn grain was ground (coarse: 1.08 mm; medium: 0.84 mm; and fine: 0.73 mm) or steam-flaked (SFC; density = 0.40 kg/L). The dry matter proportion retained on an 8-mm sieve was greater for the SFC diet than for the GC diets. There were no treatment effects on DMI, milk yield, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, fat or lactose yield, protein or lactose content, or milk urea nitrogen concentration. However, digestibility of dry matter and organic matter were greater for fine GC and SFC than the other diets. In addition, cows fed SFC had lower total-tract starch digestibility than cows fed GC diets. Cows fed SFC tended to have lower propionate proportion (22.8 vs. 27.1 mM) and total volatile fatty acid concentration (88.6 vs. 99.8 mM) in ruminal fluid than those fed GC diets. Acetate and butyrate concentration, acetate to propionate ratio, and ruminal concentration of ammonia-nitrogen were not affected by treatments. Ruminal pH (6.46 vs. 6.01) as well as milk fat content (2.75 vs. 2.59%) and efficiencies (fat-corrected milk/DMI and energy-corrected milk/DMI) were greater for SFC than GC, regardless of its particle size. Milk fat content tended to increase linearly with increasing particle size of GC. Eating activity (min/d) tended to be less for SFC compared with GC, but rumination activity (min/d) and total chewing activity (min/d) were not affected by processing or particle size. The results of study indicate that, compared with GC, steam flaking of corn with 400 g/L density increased milk fat content and efficiency of high-producing dairy cows without any negative effect on milk yield. For GC, milk fat content tended to linearly increase and starch digestibility decreased linearly with increasing particle size.

Serogroups, and drug resistance of nontyphoidal Salmonella in symptomatic patients with community-acquired diarrhea and chicken meat samples in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, however, sources of the multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and their link with the disease are not well known. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the frequency, serogroup diversity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella strains in poultry meat and stool samples of patients with community acquired diarrhea in Tehran. METHODS: We compared the frequency of non-typhoidal Salmonella serogroups, the similarities of their resistance patterns to 10 antimicrobial compounds, the prevalence of extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillinase C (AmpC) genetic determinants, and class 1 and 2 integrons in 100 chicken meat and 400 stool samples of symptomatic patients in Tehran during June 2018 to March 2019. RESULTS: Salmonella was isolated from 75% and 5.5% of the chicken meats and human stool samples, respectively. The chicken meat isolates mainly belonged to serogroup C (88%, 66/75), while the human stool isolates were mainly related to serogroup D (59.1%, 13/22). The MDR phenotype and the most common rates of resistance to antibiotics, including tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TS) and azithromycin, were detected in 4.5% and 45.3%, 59% and 13.6%, 43% and 9.1%, 42% and 9.1% of the human stool and chicken meat samples, respectively. Carriage of bla CTX, bla SHV, and bla PER genes in the meat isolate with ESBL resistance phenotype and bla ACC, bla FOX, and bla CMY-2 among the 7 meat strains with AmpC resistance phenotype was not confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). High prevalence of class 1 and 2 integrons was characterized and showed a correlation with resistance to TS and chloramphenicol. CONCLUSION: These findings showed a lack of association between chicken meats and human isolates due to discrepancy between the characterized serogroups and resistance phenotypes.

Comparing Plasmapheresis plus IVIg with Plasmapheresis plus IVIg plus Rituximab on the Management of Suspicious Antibody-Mediated Acute Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: There is no treatment of choice for the management of acute antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in kidney transplant recipients. Plasmapheresis ± intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) ± rituximab has been used in different regimens with contradictory results. OBJECTIVE: To compare three regimens of acute ABMR management including plasmapheresis + IVIg ± rituximab in two different rituximab regimens. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study kidney transplant recipients with suspicious ABMR were categorized into three groups. Group 1 patients were treated with plasmapheresis + IVIg. Groups 2 and 3 received weekly rituximab at a dosage of 375 mg/m2 for either 4 doses (group 2 or high dose) or 2 doses (group 3 or low dose) in addition to plasmapheresis + IVIg. RESULTS: 8, 15, and 9 patients were categorized in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no difference among the groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics of recipients and donors. Although, 1-year graft (37.5%, 60.0%, and 66.7% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; p=0.308) and patients survival (75.0%, 86.7%, and 77.8% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; p=0.730) were not significantly different among studied groups, graft survival was 22%-30% higher in rituximab-treated groups. Estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12th month of follow-up did not differ among groups (56.3±19.6, 57.3±20.6, 48.7±16.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; p=0.683). However, kidney function steadily improved over time in rituximab-treated patients. CONCLUSION: Adding high or low doses of rituximab to plasmapheresis + IVIg comparably increased graft survival in suspicious acute ABMR kidney recipients and steadily improved kidney function among survived allografts over time.

Conceptualizing and determining core clinical competencies in nursing students: a qualitative study.

AIM: This study aimed to conceptualize and explain the core clinical competencies of nursing students in Iran. BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Despite the national and international efforts to modify nursing curricula such that the students' clinical competencies are improved, there is still a widespread concern about this issue, perhaps due to the impact of factors other than the curriculum itself, such as the lack of a clear definition for the concept of clinical competency and its main components in nursing students. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis. The participants were selected through purposive sampling and included 14 senior students of bachelor of nursing, four nurses working in teaching hospitals and six clinical instructors. Individual semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. After recording and transcribing the interviews, content analysis was used to extract the concepts. FINDINGS: The main theme of the study was 'multidimensionality of the concept of clinical competency,' which had six main categories, namely 'adoption of and adaptation with the nursing practice,' 'nursing knowledge,' 'self-direction in clinical learning,' 'patient care skills,' 'professional ethics' and 'the development of professional behaviours.' DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Clinical competency and its dimensions among students comprise a multidimensional concept. Having a clear and comprehensive understanding of this concept and focusing on its core axes may be the most important step in improving students' clinical competency. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING, HEALTH AND EDUCATION POLICY: Policymakers and nursing education authorities can identify the problems existing in the students' clinical competency and provide them with practical solutions for a standard professional education through a clear understanding of the concept of clinical competency and its dimensions.

Micromagnetic study of soft magnetic nanowires.

In this paper, micromagnetic analysis of an array of long magnetic nanowires (NWs) embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix is performed. It is found that for NWs with diameters on the order of a hundred nanometers, the anisotropy and exchange energies are negligible, so the total free energy is a sum of the Zeeman and magnetostatic energies. The minimum magnetostatic energy corresponds to the maximum Zeeman energy, whereby half of the NWs are magnetized parallel to the external field, while the rest of the NWs are magnetized antiparallel to the external fields. The study shows a vortex behavior of the magnetic moments in the magnetization reversal process. Additionally, the hysteresis loop area of the nanocomposite is inversely proportional to the NW diameter in the range from 20 to 200 nm. The results pave the way for designing of NW-based devices such as optimized magnetic sensors for biomedical applications with a trade-off between miniaturization and energy loss.

Does adding water to a dry starter diet improve calf performance during winter?

Very recently, we added water to a dry texturized starter diet and found substantial improvements in calf performance during summer, leading to the hypothesis that the wet starter diet would also benefit calf performance during winter. Forty-five 3-day-old male Holstein calves (BW 43.4±3.4 kg) were blocked by initial BW and distributed randomly to one of three starter diets (1 calf per pen; 15 pens per treatment) that differed only in moisture content as 90%, 75% and 50% dry matter (DM; DM90, DM75 and DM50, respectively). The starter diet comprised 55.1% ground ingredients (soybean meal, barley and corn gluten meal), 21.9% whole corn, 10% rolled barley and 10% chopped alfalfa hay. The mean ambient temperature averaged 2.1±0.9°C during the 70-day experiment. Calves were weaned at day 50 of the study. Although starter feed intake remained unaffected by treatment, the calves receiving DM75 and DM50 consumed more starter feed (DM basis) than those receiving DM90 diet during the first 20 days of the experiment. Body weight at weaning exhibited a quadratic response with the heaviest weaning weight (76.8 kg) occurring when calves consumed DM75 diet. Adding water to the dry starter diet tended to linearly increase final BW. Average daily gain during the pre- (0.67 kg/day) and post-weaning (1.22 kg/day) periods was the greatest for calves receiving DM75 and DM50, respectively. Although feed efficiency during the pre-weaning and overall periods did not differ across the treatments, a quadratic effect was detected in the post-weaning feed efficiency, with the lowest value being observed with DM75 diet. No difference was noted on skeletal growth parameters measured on days 50 and 70. Adding water to the dry starter diet linearly increased total volatile fatty acids concentration in the rumen. No difference among treatments existed in calf behavior recorded on days 35 and 70. As moisture content of the starter diet increased, the extent of sorting for long particles (>2 mm) and against fine particles (<0.125 mm) decreased. During the 70-day winter trial, adding water to the dry texturized starter diet with 10% chopped alfalfa hay resulted in a higher feed intake during the first weeks of life, a quadratic tendency toward improved growth rate during the pre-weaning period, and possibly a more functional rumen fermentation. A wet starter diet with 75% DM in the physical form offered in this study can be recommended to improve calf performance during winter.

Preservation of fruit and vegetable discards with sodium metabisulfite.

Two series of experiments were performed to investigate the aerobic preservation of fruit and vegetable discards (FVD) using sodium metabisulfite (SMB). In Exp. 1, metabisulfite was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/kg FVD for 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 d. Metabisulfite treatment at 6 and 8 g/kg FVD was highly effective in controlling putrefaction and preserving the nutrient components for 6 and 9 d, respectively. In the pilot-scale experiment (Exp. 2), SMB was applied at 0 and 8 g/kg FVD in a 600-L bucket for 0, 6, and 9 d in an outdoor environment. The SMB treatment was highly effective in maintaining the integrity and freshness of FVD, suppressing microbial proliferation, and preserving the nutrient constituents. Under the conditions of this study, SMB effectively preserved FVD in an aerobic environment, enabling their more efficient long-term recycling through livestock feed or development of value-added products.

Yield survey and nutritional evaluation of garlic stalk for ruminant feed.

BACKGROUND: Very limited information exists on the ruminal degradation kinetics of nutrients in garlic stalk. The present study aimed to survey the annual yield of garlic stalk in Korea and determine its feed-nutritive value for ruminants. METHODS: In Experiment 1, garlic stalk was incubated in situ in the rumen of two Hanwoo steers (360 ± 15 kg body weight) and removed after 12, 24, or 48 h to determine the ruminal degradation kinetics of DM and NDF. Rice straw was also included for comparison. In Experiment 2, In Experiment 2, six male Corriedale sheep were randomized to two dietary treatments to determine the apparent digestibility of nutrients in garlic stalk. Diets included a control ration without garlic stalk (60% concentrate mix +40% ryegrass) or a treatment ration (70% control diet +30% garlic stalk). RESULTS: The Korean national yield of garlic stalk (sun-dried basis) in 2016 was estimated to be 31,910 tons, with the southern coastal regions producing the highest quantity. Compared with rice straw, garlic stalk had lower NDF, higher ADF, and greater effective degradabilities of DM and NDF, resulting in a greater TDN value (56.3%), which was higher than that obtained for rice straw (43.7%). CONCLUSION: These results provide basic information on the ruminal DM and NDF degradation kinetics of garlic stalk, which would be helpful for the efficient utilization of this by-product in ruminant diets.

Generation of recombinant protein shells of Johnson grass chlorotic stripe mosaic virus in tobacco plants and their use as drug carrier.

The development and use of virus-like particles (VLPs) is a growing field with a powerful potential in generation of nanoparticles. In the present study we have attempted to generate and use empty shells of Johnson grass chlorotic stripe mosaic virus (JgCSMV, a member of the genus Aureusvirus, family Tombusviridae) as VLP nanoparticles for drug loading. In order to successfully produce recombinant JgCSMV-derived VLPs, we followed an approach based on cloning of the JgCSMV CP gene into pBI121 vector and introduction of the latter into Agrobacterium rhizogenes and transformation of tobacco cells for coat protein expression. Expression in tobacco tissue was demonstrated in transformed hairy roots as a model system. Recombinant VLPs were purified, analyzed by immune assay and visulalized by electron microscopy. Next, we explored the possibility of using JgCSMV-derived VLPs as a nanocontainer for loading the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), taking advantage of the reversible swelling of VLPs in vitro. The results showed that transformed hairy roots produced high levels of the recombinant protein that readily assembled to form empty shells with overall structure similar to native virus particles. In addition, we demonstrated that JgCSMV-VLPs could function as vehicles able to load the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. To our knowledge, this is the first research addressing the question of how this icosahedral virus (JgCSMV) can be used for the production of nanocontainers for biomedical applications.

Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal quantities of milk at fixed or variable amounts per day during milk-feeding period.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding equal quantities of milk during the pre-weaning period through different milk-feeding regimes on calf growth, starter intake and selected blood metabolites. In experiment 1, 44 female Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.2±4.3 kg of BW) were distributed randomly to one of two milk-feeding programs (1 calf per pen; 22 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; 6 l/day of milk from days 3 to 60 and 3 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age) or (2) step-up/step-down (SUSD; 5 l/day of milk from days 3 to 15, 8 l/day from days 16 to 40, 6 l/day from days 41 to 50, 3 l/day from days 51 to 60 and then 2 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age). No difference between treatments was observed in starter consumption, feed efficiency, hip width and heart girth. However, pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) tended to be greater in CONS than in SUSD calves (0.78 v. 0.70 kg/day; P=0.07). Blood ß-hydroxybutyrate at day 45 (pre-weaning) was lower in SUSD than in CONS calves (0.14 v. 0.21±0.013 mmol/l). In experiment 2, 26 male Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.4±4.1 kg of BW) were assigned at random to one of two milk-feeding protocols (1 calf per pen; 13 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; (7 l/day of milk from days 3 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age) or (2) step-down (STD; 8 l/day of milk from days 3 to 30, 4 l/day from days 31 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age). The milk-feeding program had no effect on the performance measurements, with the exception that ADG (days 15 to 30), starter intake (days 30 to 45) and heart girth (day 45) were greater in STD than in CONS calves. In conclusion, it appears that if the total amount of milk intake is held constant over the course of milk-feeding period, the method of milk feeding would have negligible effects on calf performance.