The use of spray-dried blood meal, copper, and zinc in starter diets of pigs weaned at five weeks of age

A total of 684 weanling pigs were used in five experiments to evaluate the use of spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in starter diets for pigs weaned at 35 days of age. In Exp. 1, 121 pigs (initially 8.64 kg and 35 days of age) were utilized to evaluate three levels of SDBM in nutrient-dense starter diets. Pigs were fed diets containing 0 (control), 2, 4, or 6% SDBM. For the first 14 days post-weaning these diets contained 10% dried whey, and for the remaining 14 days pigs were fed corn-soybean meal based diets containing the experimental treatments. ADG from day 14 to 28 was decreased (P \u3c .05) for all SDBM levels and for the overall (0 to 28 d) period those pigs receiving the 6% SDBM diet had reduced (P \u3c .05) ADG and reduced (P \u3c .004) G/F. Pigs fed the 6% diet were lighter (P \u3c .03) at the end of the trial than pigs fed the other treatments. In Exp. 2, 151 pigs (initially 8.70 kg and 36 days of age) were utilized to evaluate three levels of SDBM in nutrient-dense starter diets and their effects on subsequent growth periods. Pigs were fed diets containing 0 (control), 2, 3, or 4% SDBM for the first 14 days post-weaning. These diets contained 10% dried whey during the first 14 days and were corn-soybean meal based for the remainder of the trial. ADG was improved (P \u3c .05) the first 14 days for pigs receiving the 3 and 4% SDBM diets. These pigs were also heavier (P \u3c .05) than pigs fed the control diet. ADF was not affected during the trial, but pigs receiving the 3% SDBM diet were more (P \u3c .05) efficient than the controls. During the subsequent finishing period, pigs which had received the 4% SDBM diet were heavier (P \u3c .05) at each weigh period than the controls, but were not different from pigs fed the other SDBM levels. From 28 to 56 days the 3%-fed pigs had improved (P \u3c .03) ADG. ADF for the 28 to 56 d, 0 to 56 d, and overall (0 to 69 d) periods was improved (P \u3c .05) for pigs which had received the 4% SDBM diet. Days to market were not affected by dietary treatment. In Exp. 3, 129 pigs (initially 7.4 kg and 35 days of age) were used to determine how long post-weaning SDBM needs to be added to diets to improve performance of weanling swine. Experimental treatments were the same as Exp. 2 except that they were applied for the full five week nursery period instead of just the first 14 days post-weaning. ADG was improved (P \u3c .02) for the 7 to 14 d period for pigs fed the 3% diet compared to the 2% diet, but was not different from pigs fed the control diet. Overall (0 to 35 d) the controls gained faster (P \u3c .05) than did pigs fed either a 2 or 4% SDBM but were not different from pigs fed the 3% SDBM diet. For the overall trial (0 to 35 d) pigs fed the control diet were more (P \u3c .05) efficient than pigs receiving the 2 or 4% SDBM diets, but were not different from those receiving the 3% diet. In Exp. 4, 128 pigs (initially 8.4 kg and 33 days of age) were utilized to determine the optimal level of Cu from CuSO4 * 5H2O to Utilize in starter diets of pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed diets containing 0(control), 50, 150, or 250 mg/kg of Cu from CuSO4 * 5H2O For the first 14 days post-weaning all diets contained 3% SDBM and 10% dried whey. ADG, from day 0 to 14, was improved {P \u3c .05) by the addition of 50 mg/kg Cu and there was no difference between pigs consuming the 50 and 150 mg/kg diets. ADF was not affected during any phase of the nursery period. Pigs receiving the control diet were more efficient (P \u3c .04) than pigs receiving the 250 mg/kg diets. During the subsequent finishing period, where pigs were fed common finishing diets, ADG was not affected; but pigs fed the control diet had improved (P \u3c .04) ADF for the first 30 days, and were more efficient (P \u3c .04) overall than pigs fed diets containing supplemental Cu. Pigs fed the 150 mg/kg diet had reduced (P \u3c .02) days to market compared to pigs receiving the control and the 250 mg/kg diets. In Exp. 5, 155 pigs (initially 9.9 kg and 33 days of age) were utilized to determine if diets containing 3% SDBM and 150 mg/kg Cu could be further improved by the addition of 3000 mg/kg Zn from ZnO. Experimental diets were 0(control), 150 mg/kg Cu, 3000 mg/kg Zn or 150 mg/kg Cu + 3000 mg/kg Zn. ADG and ADF were improved (P \u3c .05) the first 14 days for the pigs consuming the combination diet. From 28 to 42 days, pigs fed the combination diet had reduced (P \u3c .04) ADG and reduced (P \u3c .0007) G/F. Overall, 0 to 42 days, pigs fed the combination diet were less efficient (P \u3c .05) than pigs consuming other diets. During the subsequent finishing period, where pigs were fed common finishing diets, performance was not affected by dietary treatment fed during the nursery period; but pigs which had consumed the combination diet had increased (P \u3c .04) days to market. Based on data from these trials we conclude that for the first 14 days post-weaning, performance of pigs weaned at 35 days of age is optimized when pigs are fed nutrient-dense diets containing 3% SDBM, 150 mg/kg Cu from copper sulfate, and 3000 mg/kg Zn from ZnO

Electric-field controlled spin reversal in a quantum dot with ferromagnetic contacts

Manipulation of the spin-states of a quantum dot by purely electrical means is a highly desirable property of fundamental importance for the development of spintronic devices such as spin-filters, spin-transistors and single-spin memory as well as for solid-state qubits. An electrically gated quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime can be tuned to hold a single unpaired spin-1/2, which is routinely spin-polarized by an applied magnetic field. Using ferromagnetic electrodes, however, the properties of the quantum dot become directly spin-dependent and it has been demonstrated that the ferromagnetic electrodes induce a local exchange-field which polarizes the localized spin in the absence of any external fields. Here we report on the experimental realization of this tunneling-induced spin-splitting in a carbon nanotube quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic nickel-electrodes. We study the intermediate coupling regime in which single-electron states remain well defined, but with sufficiently good tunnel-contacts to give rise to a sizable exchange-field. Since charge transport in this regime is dominated by the Kondo-effect, we can utilize this sharp many-body resonance to read off the local spin-polarization from the measured bias-spectroscopy. We show that the exchange-field can be compensated by an external magnetic field, thus restoring a zero-bias Kondo-resonance, and we demonstrate that the exchange-field itself, and hence the local spin-polarization, can be tuned and reversed merely by tuning the gate-voltage. This demonstrates a very direct electrical control over the spin-state of a quantum dot which, in contrast to an applied magnetic field, allows for rapid spin-reversal with a very localized addressing.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Wide field CO J = 3->2 mapping of the Serpens Cloud Core

Context. Outflows provide indirect means to get an insight on diverse star formation associated phenomena. On scales of individual protostellar cores, outflows combined with intrinsic core properties can be used to study the mass accretion/ejection process of heavily embedded protostellar sources. Methods. An area comprising 460"x230" of the Serpens cloud core has been mapped in 12 CO J = 3\to 2 with the HARP-B heterodyne array at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope; J = 3\to 2 observations are more sensitive tracers of hot outflow gas than lower J CO transitions; combined with the high sensitivity of the HARP-B receptors outflows are sharply outlined, enabling their association with individual protostellar cores. Results. Most of ~20 observed outflows are found to be associated with known protostellar sources in bipolar or unipolar configurations. All but two outflow/core pairs in our sample tend to have a projected orientation spanning roughly NW-SE. The overall momentum driven by outflows in Serpens lies between 3.2 and 5.1 x 10^(-1) M\odot km s^(-1), the kinetic energy from 4.3 to 6.7 x 10^(43) erg and momentum flux is between 2.8 and 4.4 x 10^(-4) M\odot km s^(-1) yr^(-1). Bolometric luminosities of protostellar cores based on Spitzer photometry are found up to an order of magnitude lower than previous estimations derived with IRAS/ISO data. Conclusions. We confirm the validity of the existing correlations between the momentum flux and bolometric luminosity of Class I sources for the homogenous sample of Serpens, though we suggest that they should be revised by a shift to lower luminosities. All protostars classified as Class 0 sources stand well above the known Class I correlations, indicating a decline in momentum flux between the two classes.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Gradel

A major problem facing Computer Science faculty members at Cedarville University is grading student assignments. Specifically, grading programming assignments can be a repetitive, time-consuming process which makes it prime for automation. Professors need a web application that takes student code, compiles it, and compares the output to what the professors provides as correct. Gradel, a senior design project, allows students to submit their code online and receive instant feedback based on professor-designed test cases. Furthermore, professors need to be able to keep track of what grades students earn on their projects, which is functionality Gradel provides. In addition to allowing professors to create courses for typical class use, Gradel also allows professors to create contests, such as the annual programming competition that takes place on campus every year. Gradel has been used for several sections of a class and this year’s contest, and the results are extremely promising

The dependence of dijet production on photon virtuality in ep collisions at HERA

The dependence of dijet production on the virtuality of the exchanged photon, Q^2, has been studied by measuring dijet cross sections in the range 0 < Q^2 < 2000 GeV^2 with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 38.6 pb^-1. Dijet cross sections were measured for jets with transverse energy E_T^jet > 7.5 and 6.5 GeV and pseudorapidities in the photon-proton centre-of-mass frame in the range -3 < eta^jet <0. The variable xg^obs, a measure of the photon momentum entering the hard process, was used to enhance the sensitivity of the measurement to the photon structure. The Q^2 dependence of the ratio of low- to high-xg^obs events was measured. Next-to-leading-order QCD predictions were found to generally underestimate the low-xg^obs contribution relative to that at high xg^obs. Monte Carlo models based on leading-logarithmic parton-showers, using a partonic structure for the photon which falls smoothly with increasing Q^2, provide a qualitative description of the data.Comment: 35 pages, 6 eps figures, submitted to Eur.Phys.J.

Generalized optical theorem for reflection, transmission, and extinction of power for electromagnetic fields

We present a generalization of the optical theorem for electromagnetic fields. This result is used to obtain the power extinguished from a field by a scatterer contained in a dielectric half space. Applications to microscopy and tomography are described

Search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at √ s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb−1 of √ s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are required to have at least one jet with pT > 120 GeV and no leptons. Nine signal regions are considered with increasing missing transverse momentum requirements between Emiss T > 150 GeV and Emiss T > 700 GeV. Good agreement is observed between the number of events in data and Standard Model expectations. The results are translated into exclusion limits on models with either large extra spatial dimensions, pair production of weakly interacting dark matter candidates, or production of very light gravitinos in a gauge-mediated supersymmetric model. In addition, limits on the production of an invisibly decaying Higgs-like boson leading to similar topologies in the final state are presente

Biomarker and Geochemical Assay Validation in Mars Analog Sites: Lessons from the FELDSPAR (Field Exploration and Life Detection Sampling for Planetary Analog Research) Project

Missions looking for signs of life on other worlds can often only take a few samples once they arrive. Making sense of these "few and far between" observations is easier if we know what a "normal" level of variation for that kind of planet is. Recent eruption sites in Iceland are good places to learn about this, because they have very little life present and the same types of rocks as many places on Mars. We have visited several of these sites in Iceland and tested many different kinds of measurements: the energy available for life, the amount of DNA (an important biological molecule) present, the relative amounts of different kinds of micro-organisms, and the specific minerals that make up the rocks and ground. In addition to recommendations for future expeditions, we have also shown that using early on-site measurements to choose later on-site sample sites is very helpful in reducing the number of sample sites needed

Performance and Operation of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75848 channels corresponding to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise, is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented

Beauty photoproduction measured using decays into muons in dijet events in ep collisions at s\sqrt{s}=318 GeV

The photoproduction of beauty quarks in events with two jets and a muon has been measured with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 110 pb$^{- 1}$. The fraction of jets containing b quarks was extracted from the transverse momentum distribution of the muon relative to the closest jet. Differential cross sections for beauty production as a function of the transverse momentum and pseudorapidity of the muon, of the associated jet and of $x_{\gamma}^{jets}$, the fraction of the photon's momentum participating in the hard process, are compared with MC models and QCD predictions made at next-to-leading order. The latter give a good description of the data.Comment: 32 pages, 6 tables, 7 figures Table 6 and Figure 7 revised September 200