Bottomonia in the Quark-Gluon Plasma and their Production at RHIC and LHC

We study the production of bottomonium states in heavy-ion reactions at collider energies available at RHIC and LHC. We employ an earlier constructed rate equation approach which accounts for both suppression and regeneration mechanisms in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and hadronization phases of the evolving thermal medium. Our previous predictions utilizing two limiting cases of strong and weak bottomonium binding in the QGP are updated by (i) checking the compatibility of the pertinent spectral functions with lattice-QCD results for euclidean correlators, (ii) adapting the initial conditions of the rate equation by updating bottom-related input cross sections and the charged-particle multiplicity of the fireball, and (iii) converting our calculations into observables as recently measured by the STAR and CMS experiments. Our main findings are a preference for strong $\Upsilon$ binding as well as a significant regeneration component at the LHC.Comment: 12 pages, 25 figure

Factors Promoting Silica Urolithiasis (Urinary Calculi) in Sheep

The following study was conducted to determine the effects of a high calcium to phosphorus ratio and alkali-forming effects of the diet on silica urolithiasis in ruminants

An Introduction to Gas Accretion onto Galaxies

Evidence for gas accretion onto galaxies can be found throughout the universe. In this chapter, I summarize the direct and indirect signatures of this process and discuss the primary sources. The evidence for gas accretion includes the star formation rates and metallicities of galaxies, the evolution of the cold gas content of the universe with time, numerous indirect indicators for individual galaxies, and a few direct detections of inflow. The primary sources of gas accretion are the intergalactic medium, satellite gas and feedback material. There is support for each of these sources from observations and simulations, but the methods with which the fuel ultimately settles in to form stars remain murky.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, Invited review to appear in Gas Accretion onto Galaxies, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, eds. A. J. Fox & R. Dav\'e, to be published by Springe

Mercury in Our Environment

A project was initiated July 1, 1971, involving the Station Biochemistry and Animal Science departments, to study mercury from the standpoint of (1) methods for mercury determination in natural materials, (2) a survey of the occurrence of mercury in nature in South Dakota and (3) the toxicity of different chemical forms of mercury especially with respect to animal reproduction and teratogenic effects

Limestone As a buffering Agent in High-Concentrate Diets

In recent years, there has been evidence indicating that limestone in excess of normal requirement levels for calcium has beneficial effects for ruminants. Research at this station has shown that limestone supplementation is effective in preventing phosphatic urinary calculi formation in ruminants when fed at higher levels than normally recommended. Work at other stations has shown positive effects on weight gain from limestone added to highconcentrate diets, which was attributed to buffering action within the digestive tract. In short-term finishing periods, buffer supplementation may help ruminants adapt to high-grain diets if roughage has been their major feedstuff in the past. Graded levels of limestone were fed in this experiment to determine beneficial effects in protecting lambs from the effects of rumen acidosis during an extremely short adaptation period and to determine the optimum level of supplementation needed to improve performance during the longer term finishing period

Nitrate and Vitamin A Interrelationship in Sheep

Several researchers have demonstrated that dietary nitrate reduced liver stores of vitamin A in ruminants. However, it has not been shown whether the effect is due to a more rapid depletion of existing vitamin A stores or to a lowered depatic deposition of the vitamin. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nitrate on plasma vitamin A, hepatic vitamin A and performance of lambs during a growing period (experiment 1) and vitamin A depletion and repletion periods (experiment 2)

Pre- and Post-Adaptation Effects of Buffers in High-Concentrate Lamb Diets

A gradual increase in grain cover a period of 2 to 4 weeks is commonly required before ruminant animals become adapted to high-concentrate diets. Various dietary materials including sodium bicarbonate, sodium betonite, limestone and forage have been indicated as potential adis in the prevention of acidosis during adaptation. Benefits from feeding of these materials following adaptation have been less pronounced or lacking. Objectives of studies reported herein were (1) to investigate the effects of buffers and limited quantitites of alfalfa hay on physiological and rumen fermentation changs occuring in lambs during the early phase of adaptation to high-concentrate diets and (2) to study ruminal and systemic parameters and nutrient utilization as influenced by buffers in the diets of lambs previously adapted to the high-concentrate diet

The Use of Bentonite as a Feeding Aid for Ruminants

The beneficial as well as the potential detrimental effects of bentonite upon feedlot performance during as initial period and subsequent intervals of a lamb finishing period were studied in experiment 1. The effects of bentonite upon digestion and retention of various nutrients were studied in experiment 2. These studies are described herein