Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of erythro-series pentoses and hexoses by N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of D-glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-arabinose, and D-ribose with chloramine-T in alkaline medium were studied. The rate law, rate = k Chloramine-T] Sugar] HO-](2), was observed. The rate of the reaction was influenced by a change in ionic strength of the medium, and the dielectric effect was found to be negative. The latter enabled the computation of d(AB), the size of the activated complex. The reaction rate was almost doubled in deuterium oxide. Activation energies were calculated from the Arrhenius plots. HPLC and GLC-MS analyses of the products indicated that the sugars were oxidized to a mixture of aldonic acids, consisting of arabinonic, ribonic, erythronic, and glyceric acids. Based on these data, a plausible mechanism involving the aldo-enolic anions of pentoses and keto-enolic anions of hexoses is suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Investigation of concrete produced using recycled aluminium dross for hot weather concreting conditions

Aluminium dross is a by-product obtained from the aluminium smelting process. Currently, this dross is processed in rotary kilns to recover the residual aluminium, and the resultant salt cake is sent to landfills. The present study investigates the utilization of recycled aluminium dross in producing concrete, which is suitable for hot weather concreting condition. The primary objectives of the experimental study are to examine the feasibility of using concrete blended with recycled aluminium dross under hot weather concreting situations and then to evaluate the strength and durability aspects of the produced concrete. From the experimental results it is observed that the initial setting time of the recycled aluminium dross concrete extended by about 30 minutes at 20% replacement level. This property of recycled aluminium dross concrete renders it to be suitable for hot weather concreting conditions. Based on the results obtained, the replacement of cement with 20% of Al dross yields superior mechanical and durability characteristics

New Dependencies of Hierarchies in Polynomial Optimization

We compare four key hierarchies for solving Constrained Polynomial Optimization Problems (CPOP): Sum of Squares (SOS), Sum of Diagonally Dominant Polynomials (SDSOS), Sum of Nonnegative Circuits (SONC), and the Sherali Adams (SA) hierarchies. We prove a collection of dependencies among these hierarchies both for general CPOPs and for optimization problems on the Boolean hypercube. Key results include for the general case that the SONC and SOS hierarchy are polynomially incomparable, while SDSOS is contained in SONC. A direct consequence is the non-existence of a Putinar-like Positivstellensatz for SDSOS. On the Boolean hypercube, we show as a main result that Schm\"udgen-like versions of the hierarchies SDSOS*, SONC*, and SA* are polynomially equivalent. Moreover, we show that SA* is contained in any Schm\"udgen-like hierarchy that provides a O(n) degree bound.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figure

Super-reflection of light from a random amplifying medium with disorder in the complex refractive index : Statistics of fluctuations

The probability distribution of the reflection coefficient for light reflected from a one-dimensional random amplifying medium with {\it cross-correlated} spatial disorder in the real and the imaginary parts of the refractive index is derived using the method of invariant imbedding. The statistics of fluctuations have been obtained for both the correlated telegraph noise and the Gaussian white-noise models for the disorder. In both cases, an enhanced backscattering (super-reflection with reflection coefficient greater than unity) results because of coherent feedback due to Anderson localization and coherent amplification in the medium. The results show that the effect of randomness in the imaginary part of the refractive index on localization and super-reflection is qualitatively different.Comment: RevTex 6 pages, 3 figures in ps file

Effects of dietary copper, zinc, and ractopamine hydrochloride on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria

Citation: Feldpausch, J. A., Amachawadi, R. G., Tokach, M. D., Scott, H. M., Nagaraja, T. G., Dritz, S. S., . . . DeRouchey, J. M. (2016). Effects of dietary copper, zinc, and ractopamine hydrochloride on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Journal of Animal Science, 94(8), 3278-3293. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0340A total of 480 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 48.7 ± 2.3 kg) were used to determine the interactive effects of supplemental Cu, Zn, and ractopamine HCl (RAC) on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with the main effects of added Cu (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 mg/kg Cu), Zn (ZnO; 0 vs. 150 mg/kg Zn), and RAC (0 vs. 10 mg/kg during the last 28 d prior to marketing). All diets contained 11 mg/kg Cu and 73 mg/ kg Zn from the trace mineral premix. Pens of pigs were balanced and blocked on initial BW and then randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 mineral treatment diets. At 28 d prior to marketing, pens within each block and mineral treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 0 or 10 mg/kg RAC in addition to the mineral treatment. Adding either Cu or Zn alone did not improve ADG or ADFI yet resulted in numerical improvements in overall G:F and caloric efficiencies, but improvements were not additive (Cu × Zn, P = 0.057, P = 0.068, and P = 0.064 for G:F and caloric efficiency on a ME and NE basis, respectively). Ractopamine improved (P < 0.001) overall ADG, G:F, and caloric efficiency, thereby increasing final BW by 3% with no change in ADFI. Ractopamine also increased (P < 0.001) HCW, percentage carcass yield, G:F, loin depth, and percent fat-free lean and decreased (P = 0.014) backfat. Adding Zn or Cu alone to diets containing RAC numerically improved percent yield and HCW G:F, but this effect was absent when the Cu or Zn was added to the control diet or when Cu and Zn were fed in combination in RAC diets (Cu × Zn × RAC, P = 0.011 and P = 0.018 for yield and HCW G:F, respectively). Fecal samples were collected on d 0 and at the conclusion of the finishing period (d 90) for bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute minimal inhibitory concentrations breakpoints. Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolates displayed varying levels of resistance to certain antibiotics prior to initiation of treatments on d 0. Resistance to most antibiotics decreased (P < 0.05) over time or was stable for those that had a low baseline percentage of resistance. Neither Zn nor RAC adversely affected antimicrobial resistance. However, extended feeding of 125 mg/kg Cu throughout the finishing period seems to decrease enterococcal susceptability to tetracycline, tylosin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. © 2016 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved

Effects of dietary Cu, Zn, and ractopamine-HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria

Citation: Feldpausch, J. A., Amachawadi, R., Tokach, M. D., Scott, H. M., Dritz, S. S., Nagaraja, T. G., . . . DeRouchey, J. M. (2016). Effects of dietary Cu, Zn, and ractopamine-HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 73-74. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-157A total of 480 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 48.7 kg) were used to determine the interactive effects of supplemental Cu, Zn, and ractopamine HCl on finishing pig growth, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of added copper (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 ppm Cu), added zinc (ZnO; 0 vs. 150 ppm Zn) and ractopamine HCl (0 vs. 10 ppm during the last 28 d before marketing; Paylean®; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). All diets contained 11 ppm Cu and 73 ppm Zn from the trace mineral premix. Pens of pigs were balanced and blocked on initial BW then randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 mineral treatment diets. Twenty-eight d before marketing, pens within each block and mineral treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 0 or 10 ppm ractopamine in addition to the mineral treatment. Adding either Cu or Zn alone did not improve ADG or ADFI yet resulted in numerical improvements in overall G:F and caloric efficiencies but improvements were not additive (Cu × Zn, P = 0.057, 0.068 and 0.064 for G:F and caloric efficiency on a ME and NE basis, respectively). Ractopamine improved (P < 0.001) overall ADG, G:F, and caloric efficiency thereby increasing final BW by 3% with no change in ADFI. Ractopamine increased (P < 0.001) HCW, percent carcass yield, HCW G:F, loin depth, and percent fat-free lean and decreased (P = 0.014) backfat. An interaction existed whereby adding Zn or Cu alone to diets containing ractopamine numerically improved percent carcass yield and HCW G:F, but no improvement was observed when the Cu or Zn was added to the control diet or when Cu and Zn were fed in combination in the ractopamine diets (Cu × Zn × ractopamine, P = 0.011 and 0.018 for yield and HCW G:F, respectively). Fecal samples were collected on d 0 and at the conclusion of the finishing period (d 90) for bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations according to minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates displayed varying levels of resistance to certain antibiotics before initiation of treatments on d 0. Resistance to most antibiotics decreased (P < 0.05) over time or was stable for those that had a low base-line percentage of resistance. Ractopamine and Zn did not adversely affect antimicrobial resistance but extended feeding of 125 ppm Cu throughout the finishing period appeared to antagonize any time-associated decrease in enterococcal resistance to tetracycline, tylosin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin

Effects of dietary zinc oxide and chlortetracycline on nursery pig growth performance

Swine Industry Day, 2014 is known as Swine Day, 2014A total of 240 weaned pigs (PIC 1050; initially 13.4 lb) were used in a 47-d study to compare the effects of added Zn from zinc oxide (ZnO), alone or in combination with a low or high dose of chlortetracycline (CTC), on nursery pig performance. Pigs were allotted to pens at weaning (d 0) and fed a common starter diet with no antimicrobial for 5 d before the start of the experiment. On d 5, pens of 5 pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of added ZnO (0 vs. 2,500 ppm of Zn) and CTC (0, 50, or 400 g/ton). Pigs were fed experimental diets from d 5 to 26 after weaning followed by a common corn-soybean meal–based diet without antimicrobial from d 26 to 47. Pigs on the 50 g/ton treatment received CTC continuously from d 5 to 26; however, to comply with FDA guidelines, CTC was removed on d 15 from the diets of pigs fed 400 g/ton CTC, then added again from d 16 to 26. All diets contained 110 ppm of Zn from ZnO in the trace mineral premix. No ZnO × CTC interactions were observed. Pigs fed added ZnO had increased (P = 0.001) ADG, ADFI, and ending BW during the treatment period but increased F/G (P = 0.03) from d 26 to 47 when a common diet was fed. Pigs fed CTC had increased (linear, P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and ending BW during the treatment period as well as a tendency (quadratic, P = 0.08) for improved F/G. Overall (d 5 to 47), pigs fed added ZnO had increased (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI. Overall, pigs fed CTC tended to have increased (linear, P = 0.06) ADG and ADFI, but F/G tended (quadratic, P = 0.07) to decrease then increase as CTC increased. In summary, when ZnO or CTC were added to the diets, increased ADG and ADFI were observed, but additional carryover benefits were not evident after these feed additives were removed from the diets. The benefits of added Zn from ZnO and CTC are additive and could be included together in diets to get the maximum benefit in growth performance of weaned pigs

Amelioration of type 1 diabetes following treatment of non-obese diabetic mice with INGAP and lisofylline

Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from the autoimmune and inflammatory destruction of insulin-producing islet β cells, rendering individuals devoid of insulin production. Recent studies suggest that combination therapies consisting of anti-inflammatory agents and islet growth-promoting factors have the potential to cause sustained recovery of β cell mass, leading to amelioration or reversal of type 1 diabetes in mouse models. In this study, we hypothesized that the combination of the anti-inflammatory agent lisofylline (LSF) with an active peptide fragment of islet neogenesis associated protein (INGAP peptide) would lead to remission of type 1 diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. We treated groups of spontaneously diabetic NOD mice with combinations of LSF, INGAP peptide, or control saline parenterally for up to 6 weeks. Our results demonstrate that the mice receiving combined treatment with LSF and INGAP peptide exhibited partial remission of diabetes with increased plasma insulin levels. Histologic assessment of pancreata in mice receiving combined therapy revealed the presence of islet insulin staining, increased β cell replication, and evidence of Pdx1-positivity in ductal cells. By contrast, diabetic animals showed severe insulitis with no detectible insulin or Pdx1 staining. We conclude that the novel combination treatment with LSF and INGAP peptide has the potential to ameliorate hyperglycemia in the setting of established type 1 diabetes via the recovery of endogenous β cells and warrant further studies

Effect of different obesogenic diets on pancreatic histology in Ossabaw miniature swine

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a factor in the outcome and severity of pancreatic conditions. We examined the effect of hypercaloric diets on the pancreata of Ossabaw swine, a large animal model of metabolic syndrome and obesity. METHODS: Swine were fed with 1 of 4 diets: high-fructose (n = 9), atherogenic (n = 10), modified atherogenic (n = 6), or eucaloric standard diet (n = 12) for 24 weeks. Serum chemistries were measured, and pancreata were examined for histological abnormalities including steatosis, inflammation or fibrosis, insulin content, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: The fructose, atherogenic, and modified atherogenic diet groups exhibited obesity, metabolic syndrome, islet enlargement, and significantly increased pancreatic steatosis (22.9% ± 7.5%, 19.7% ± 7.7%, and 38.7% ± 15.3% fat in total tissue area, respectively) compared with controls (9.3% ± 1.9%; P < 0.05). The modified atherogenic diet group showed significantly increased oxidative stress levels as evidenced by elevated serum malondialdehyde (3.0 ± 3.3 vs 1.5 ± 0.3 μmol/L in controls; P = 0.006) and pancreatic malondialdehyde (0.1 ± 0.12 vs 0.04 ± 0.01 nmol/mg protein in controls; P = 0.01). None of the swine exhibited pancreatitis or cellular injury. CONCLUSIONS: Ossabaw swine fed with a modified atherogenic diet developed significant pancreatic steatosis and increased oxidative stress, but no other histological abnormalities were observed

Sudden drop of fractal dimension of electromagnetic emissions recorded prior to significant earthquake

The variation of fractal dimension and entropy during a damage evolution process, especially approaching critical failure, has been recently investigated. A sudden drop of fractal dimension has been proposed as a quantitative indicator of damage localization or a likely precursor of an impending catastrophic failure. In this contribution, electromagnetic emissions recorded prior to significant earthquake are analysed to investigate whether they also present such sudden fractal dimension and entropy drops as the main catastrophic event is approaching. The pre-earthquake electromagnetic time series analysis results reveal a good agreement to the theoretically expected ones indicating that the critical fracture is approaching