Surface Temperature of Creep Heat Mat as Affected by Piglet Use

In a previous study (3), the temperature (Tmat) distribution of commercial creep heat mats had been examined under static laboratory conditions. This follow-up study evaluated Tmat of a selected heat mat as influenced by the activities of piglets in experimental farrowing crates. The heat mat was operated either with regulated power input by embedded temperature sensors or with constant power input. Embedded temperature sensors were found to facilitate the controllability of Tmat, and thus were recommended. When piglets rested on sensor-regulated heat mat, Tmat rose in the occupied region and declined in the unoccupied region, with temperature differences between the two regions ranging from 7 to 12°C (13 to 22°F). The temperature feedback control generally allowed for the maintenance of thermal comfort of piglets. In comparison, mats without temperature feedback control could become undesirably warm (\u3e43°C; 109°F) for the piglets

Transporting Isowean Pigs—Part II: Responses to Potential In-transit Thermal Conditions

The goal of this research was to explore the feasibility and protocols to transport isowean pigs long distance. This study was the second part of the effort that examined the thermal environment aspects of such a practice. Isowean pigs of PIC genetics (10 to 12 days old) were subjected to simulated 54-h in-transit temperature pattern of 80 ± 0, 5, 10 or 15°F. The pigs were provided with water supplement (average dosage of 2 lb/pig) during the treatment period and ad libitum feeding during a 14-d growth period. All pigs had similar weight loss (8.4 to 8.9% of their initial body weight) during the treatment period. The only difference in total weight gain during the growth period was between pigs previously exposed to 80 ± 15°F (8.33 lb) and those previously exposed to 80 ± 10°F (9.15 lb) (P0.05). All pigs showed similar physiological and energetic responses during both treatment and growth periods. The treatment period led to elevated concentrations of hematocrit, plasma protein, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and chloride, but declined glucose level (

Intrinsic triple degeneracy point bounded by nodal surfaces in chiral photonic crystal

In periodic systems, band degeneracies are usually protected and classified by spatial symmetries. However, the Gamma point at zero-frequency of a photonic system is an intrinsic degeneracy due to the polarization degree of freedom of electromagnetic waves. We show here that in chiral photonic crystals, such an intrinsic degeneracy node carries +(-)2 chiral topological charge and the topological characters is the same as a spin-1 Weyl point manifested as a triple degeneracy of two linear propagating bands intersecting a flat band representing the electrostatic solution. Such an intrinsic triple degeneracy point (TDP) at Gamma is usually buried in bulk band projections and the topological charge at photonic zero-frequency has never been observed. Here, by imposing space-group screw symmetry to the chiral photonic crystal, the Brillouin zone boundary is transformed into an oppositely charged nodal surface enclosing the Gamma point. The emergent Fermi-arcs on sample surface are then forced to connect the bulk band projections of these topological singularities, revealing the embedded non-trivial topology

Relevance of Bcl-x expression in different types of endometrial tissues

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To explore the roles of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs in the development and progression of endometrial carcinoma, and to analyze the correlation between Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>RT-PCR and Western-blot assay were applied to detect the expressions of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs in endometrial tissues of various histomorphologic types.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Bcl-xl expression levels of simple and atypical hyperplasia endometrial tissues were not significantly different from that of normal endometrial tissue (both <it>P </it>> 0.05). On contrary, Bcl-xl expression in endometrial carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than the normal endometrial tissue (<it>P </it>= 0.00), which was correlated with the pathological grading of endometrial carcinoma (F = 5.33, <it>P </it>= 0.02). In addition, Bcl-xs mRNA level in simple hyperplasia endometrial tissue had no significant difference compared to that in normal endometrial tissue (<it>P </it>= 0.12), while the levels of atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma endometrial tissues were significantly different from the normal endometrial tissue (both <it>P </it>= 0.00). Furthermore, level of Bcl-xs mRNA was correlated with the clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of the endometrial carcinoma (<it>P </it>< 0.05). The expressions of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs were negatively correlated with each other (<it>r </it>= -0.76).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The abnormal expressions of Bcl-xs and Bcl-xl were one of the molecular mechanisms for the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma, and altered ratio between these two might involve in the onset of endometrial carcinoma.</p