Energy evaluation of extruded compound foods for dogs by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predictthe chemical composition, the apparent digestibility and the content ofdigestible nutrients and energy of commercial extruded compoundfoods fordogs

Primary gas thermometry by means of laser-absorption spectroscopy: Determination of the Boltzmann constant

We report on a new optical implementation of primary gas thermometry based on laser absorption spectrometry in the near infrared. The method consists in retrieving the Doppler broadening from highly accurate observations of the line shape of the R(12) $\nu_{1} + 2 \nu_{2}^{\phantom{1}0} + \nu_{3}$ transition in CO$_{2}$ gas at thermodynamic equilibrium. Doppler width measurements as a function of gas temperature, ranging between the triple point of water and the gallium melting point, allowed for a spectroscopic determination of the Boltzmann constant with a relative accuracy of $\sim1.6\times10^{-4}$.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Energy evaluation of extruded compound foods for dogs by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the chemical composition, apparent digestibility and digestible nutrients and energy content of commercial extruded compound foods for dogs. Fifty-six foods of known chemical composition and in vivo apparent digestibility were analysed overall and 51 foods were used to predict gross energy digestibility and digestible energy content. Modified partial least square calibration models were developed for organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), nitrogen free extracts (NFE) and gross energy (GE) content, the apparent digestibility (OMD, CPD, EED, NFED and GED) and the digestible nutrient and energy content (DOM, DCP, DEE, DNFE and DE) of foods. The calibration equations obtained were evaluated by the standard error and the determination coefficient of cross-validation. The cross-validation coefficients of determination (R) were 0.61, 0.99, 0.91, 0.96, 0.94 and 0.92 for OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE and GE, the corresponding standard error of cross-validation (SECV) being 5.80, 3.51, 13.35, 3.64 and 16.95 g/kg dry matter (DM) and 0.29 MJ/kg DM respectively. The prediction of apparent digestibility was slightly less accurate, but NIRS prediction of digestible nutrient (g/kg DM) and DE (MJ/kg DM) gave satisfactory results, with high R (0.93, 0.97, 0.93, 0.83 and 0.93 for DOM, DCP, DEE, DNFE and DE respectively) and relatively low SECV (11.55, 6.85, 12.14 and 22.98 g/kg DM and 0.47 MJ/kg DM). It is concluded that the precision of NIRS in predicting the energy value of compound extruded foods for dogs is similar or better than by proximate analysis, as well as being faster and more accurate

Septic arthritis of the knee due to Prevotella loescheii following tooth extraction

This is a case report of septic arthritis of the knee due to Prevotella loescheii, in a patient with advanced arthrosis. Two weeks beforehand he had undergone a dental root extraction without antibiotic prophylaxis. His knee had become inflamed 48 hours after extraction and he was started on ibuprofen and steroid treatment (prescribed by his primary health care doctor). With a provisional diagnosis of septic arthritis, synovial fluid was taken for study. Antimicrobial therapy was commenced with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and the patient progressed satisfactorily. Prevotella loescheii was identified by anaerobic culture. A site of origin for the infection was never found. Joint infection is generally secondary to haematogenous dissemination of bacteria from habitual sites such as odontogenic locations. We suggest that patients with inflammatory arthropathies should be considered as candidates for antibiotic prophylaxis in oral surgery and invasive dental procedures. We suggest, in these cases, the use of antibiotic with spectrum against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

Evaluation of the small ruminants cystic ovarian disease using transrectal ultrasonography

A transrectal ultrasonic method using a 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer was used in 194 ewes and 39 goats to study the characteristc of cystic ovaries. Cystic structures found on the ovaries include follicular cysts and luteinised cysts. Follicular cysts showed up as non-echogenic structures with a 1.5 ± 0.4 cm diameter. The cysts luteinised showed an echogenic rim of tissue, ranging from 2- 3 mm, around the cyst; the central cavity was 1±0.2 cm. In total, 4.1 percent of ewes and 5.1 percent of goats exhibited follicular cysts. Only 1 percent of ewes and 2.6 percent of goats showed luteinised cysts. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that transrectal ultrasonography provides a noninvasive form of visual access to the ovary from small ruminants, to evaluate pathological changes before the aplication of superovulation treatments and embryo transfer.Se ha realizado un estudio de las características ecográficas de estructuras quísticas ováricas en 194 ovejas y 39 cabras de diferentes razas y procedentes de distintas zonas geográficas, con el objeto de valorar la ecografía transrectal con sondas de alta resolución (7,5 MHz) como criterio de selección de animales destinados a programas de superovulación y recogida de embriones. Los quistes foliculares tenían una incidencia de presentación del 4,1 p.100 en las ovejas y del 5,1 p.100 en las cabras, presentándose ecográficamente con una morfología esférica anecoica de 1,5±0,4 cm de diámetro, con paredes finas y generalmente bien definidas. Los quistes luteínicos tuvieron una presentación del 1 p.100 en las ovejas y del 2,6 p.100 en las cabras. Ecográficamente se caracterizaban por presentar una cavidad central anecógena 1±0,2 cm, rodeada por un anillo ecogénico de 2-3 mm de espesor. No había diferencias significativas en la frecuencia de presentación de quistes ováricos entre ambas especies. Los resultados muestran que la ecografía transrectal con sondas de alta resolución permite la realización de un diagnóstico eficaz de la patología quística ovárica en los pequeños rumiantes, siendo recomendable esta metodología en la selección de hembras donantes y receptoras

Endogenous Matching in University-Industry Collaboration: Theory and Empirical Evidence from the United Kingdom

We use a two-sided matching framework to analyze collaboration between heterogeneous academics and firms. We consider both horizontal and vertical characteristics—those related to affinity (e.g., preferences for a type of scientific research) and those related to ability (e.g., capacity to produce high-quality scientific output). We build a unique data set based on the teams of academics and firms that proposed research projects to the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Our results are suggestive of positive assortative matching in terms of ability and type, while the matching is negative assortative in terms of their interactions. The most able and the most applied academics are the ones that are more likely to propose collaborative as opposed to noncollaborative projects

Equilibrium shapes and energies of coherent strained InP islands

The equilibrium shapes and energies of coherent strained InP islands grown on GaP have been investigated with a hybrid approach that has been previously applied to InAs islands on GaAs. This combines calculations of the surface energies by density functional theory and the bulk deformation energies by continuum elasticity theory. The calculated equilibrium shapes for different chemical environments exhibit the {101}, {111}, {\=1\=1\=1} facets and a (001) top surface. They compare quite well with recent atomic-force microscopy data. Thus in the InP/GaInP-system a considerable equilibration of the individual islands with respect to their shapes can be achieved. We discuss the implications of our results for the Ostwald ripening of the coherent InP islands. In addition we compare strain fields in uncapped and capped islands.Comment: 10 pages including 6 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B. Related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

Antibiotic-induced perturbations in gut microbial diversity influences neuro-inflammation and amyloidosis in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease

Severe amyloidosis and plaque-localized neuro-inflammation are key pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition to astrocyte and microglial reactivity, emerging evidence suggests a role of gut microbiota in regulating innate immunity and influencing brain function. Here, we examine the role of the host microbiome in regulating amyloidosis in the APP(SWE)/PS1(ΔE9) mouse model of AD. We show that prolonged shifts in gut microbial composition and diversity induced by long-term broad-spectrum combinatorial antibiotic treatment regime decreases Aβ plaque deposition. We also show that levels of soluble Aβ are elevated and that levels of circulating cytokine and chemokine signatures are altered in this setting. Finally, we observe attenuated plaque-localised glial reactivity in these mice and significantly altered microglial morphology. These findings suggest the gut microbiota community diversity can regulate host innate immunity mechanisms that impact Aβ amyloidosis