The pulsating hot subdwarf Balloon 090100001: results of the 2005 multisite campaign

Baran, A.,Oreiro, R.,Pigulski, A.,Herná,ndez, F. Pé,rez,Ulla, A.,Reed, M. D.,Rodrí,guez-Ló,pez, C.,Moskalik, P.,Kim, S.-L.,Chen, W.-P.,Crowe, R.,Siwak, M.,Armendarez, L.,Binder Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 MONTHLY NOTICES- ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Vol.392 No.3

<P>ABSTRACT</P><P>We present the results of a multisite photometric campaign on the pulsating B-type hot subdwarf star Balloon 090100001 (Bal09). The star is one of the two known hybrid hot subdwarfs with both long- and short-period oscillations, theoretically attributed to <I>g</I> and <I>p</I> modes. The campaign involved eight telescopes with three obtaining <I>UBVR</I> data, four <I>B</I>-band data and one Strömgren <I>uvby</I> photometry. The campaign covered 48 nights, providing a temporal resolution of 0.36 μHz with a detection threshold of about 0.2 mmag in <I>B</I>-filter data.</P><P>Bal09 has the richest pulsation spectrum of any known pulsating subdwarf B star, and our analysis detected 114 frequencies including 97 independent and 17 combination ones. Most of the 24 <I>g</I>-mode frequencies are between 0.1 and 0.4 mHz. Of the remaining 73, presumably <I>p</I> modes, 72 group into four distinct regions near 2.8, 3.8, 4.7 and 5.5 mHz. The density of frequencies requires that some modes must have degrees ℓ larger than 2. The modes in the 2.8 mHz region have the largest amplitudes. The strongest mode (<I>f</I><SUB>1</SUB>) is most likely radial, while the remaining ones in this region form two nearly symmetric multiplets: a triplet and quintuplet, attributed to rotationally split ℓ= 1 and 2 modes, respectively. We find clear increases of splitting in both multiplets between the 2004 and 2005 observing campaigns, amounting to ∼15 per cent on average. The observed splittings imply that the rotational rate in Bal09 depends on stellar latitude and is the fastest on the equator. We also speculate on the possible reasons for the changes of splitting. The only plausible explanation we find is torsional oscillation. This hypothesis, however, needs to be verified in the future by detailed modelling. In this context, it is very important to monitor the splittings on a longer time-scale as their behaviour may help to explain this interesting phenomenon.</P><P>The amplitudes of almost all terms detected in both 2004 and 2005 were found to vary. This is evident even during one season; for example, amplitudes of modes <I>f</I><SUB>8</SUB> and <I>f</I><SUB>C</SUB> were found to change by a factor of 2–3 within about 50 d during 2005.</P><P>We use a small grid of models to constrain the main mode (<I>f</I><SUB>1</SUB>), which most likely represents the radial fundamental pulsation. The groups of <I>p</I>-mode frequencies appear to lie in the vicinity of the consecutive radial overtones, up to the third one. Despite the large number of <I>g</I>-mode frequencies observed, we failed to identify them, most likely because of the disruption of asymptotic behaviour by mode trapping. The observed frequencies were not, however, fully exploited in terms of seismic analysis which should be done in the future with a larger grid of reliable evolutionary models of hot subdwarfs.</P>

Determination of N* amplitudes from associated strangeness production in p+p collisions

Mü,nzer, R.,Fabbietti, L.,Epple, E.,Lu, S.,Klose, P.,Hauenstein, F.,Herrmann, N.,Grzonka, D.,Leifels, Y.,Maggiora, M.,Pleiner, D.,Ramstein, B.,Ritman, J.,Roderburg, E.,Salabura, P.,Sarantsev, A.,B North-Holland Pub. Co 2018 Physics letters. Section B Vol.785 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We present the first determination of the energy-dependent amplitudes of N<SUP>⁎</SUP> resonances extracted from their decay in KΛ pairs in p+p → <SUP> pK + </SUP> Λ reactions. A combined Partial Wave Analysis of seven data samples with exclusively reconstructed p+p → <SUP> pK + </SUP> Λ events measured by the COSY-TOF, DISTO, FOPI and HADES Collaborations in fixed target experiments at kinetic energies between 2.14 to 3.5 GeV is used to determine the amplitude of the resonant and non-resonant contributions into the associated strangeness final state. The contribution of seven N<SUP>⁎</SUP> resonances with masses between 1650 MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP> and 1900 MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP> for an excess energy between 0 and 600 MeV has been considered. The Σ–p cusp and final state interactions for the p–Λ channel are also included as coherent contributions in the PWA. The N<SUP>⁎</SUP> contribution is found to be dominant with respect to the phase space emission of the pK Λ + final state at all energies demonstrating the important role played by both N<SUP>⁎</SUP> and interference effects in hadron–hadron collisions.</P>

Effect of Microbial Phytase on Performance, Nutrient Absorption and Excretion in Weaned Pigs and Apparent Ileal Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Pigs

Zeng, Z.K.,Piao, X.S.,Wang, D.,Li, P.F.,Xue, L.F.,Salmon, Lorraine,Zhang, H.Y.,Han, X.,Liu, L. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.8

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma reesei derived phytase for pigs fed diets with fixed calcium to total phosphorus ratios (1.5:1). In Exp. 1, 280 weaned pigs (initial BW of $10.32{\pm}1.94$ kg) were allocated to one of five dietary treatments on the basis of weight and gender in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were the low phosphorus (0.6% Ca, 0.4% total P and 0.23% available P) diets supplemented with 0, 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU phytase/kg of diet and a positive control diet (PC; 0.85% Ca, 0.58% total P and 0.37% available P). The treatments were applied to seven pens with eight pigs per pen, half male and half female. In Exp. 2, six barrows fitted with ileal T-cannula (initial BW = $35.1{\pm}1.6$ kg) were assigned to three dietary treatments with a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were the low-phosphorus diet (0.53% Ca, 0.34% total P and 0.14% available P), the low phosphorus diet plus 1,000 FTU phytase/kg and a positive control diet (0.77% Ca, 0.50% total P and 0.30% available P). In Exp. 1, there were linear increases (p<0.01) in weight gain, phosphorus absorption, bone strength, calcium and phosphorus content of fat-free dried bone and plasma phosphorus concentrations with increasing dose rate of phytase. The performance of pigs fed the diets with 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet. Pigs fed diets with 1,000 or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet in bone characteristics. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ash and energy was not affected by dietary treatment. However, pigs fed the PC diet excreted more fecal phosphorus (g/d, p<0.01) and fecal phosphorus per BW gain (g/kg) than pigs fed the diets with phytase. Phytase linearly decreased (p<0.01) fecal phosphorus excreted per BW gain (g/kg), plasma calcium concentration as well as plasma and bone alkaline phosphatase activity. In Exp. 2, phytase supplementation in the low-P diet increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Ca, P, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, alanine and cysteine, tended to AID of crude protein, isoleucine, threonine, asparagine and serine. In conclusion, the novel phytase originated from Trichoderma reesei is effective in releasing Ca, P, and amino acids from corn soy based diet for pigs.

Effects of Size and Rate of Maturing on Carcass Composition of Pasture- or Feedlot- Developed Steers

Brown, A.H. Jr.,Camfield, P.K.,Baublits, R.T.,Pohlman, F.W.,Johnson, Z.B.,Brown, C.J.,Tabler, G.T.,Sandelin, B.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.5

Steers (n = 335) of known genetic backgrounds from four fundamentally different growth types were subjected to two production systems to study the main effects and possible interactive effects on carcass composition. Growth types were animals with genetic potential for large mature weight (LL), intermediate mature weight-late maturing (IL), intermediate mature weight-early maturing (IE), and small mature weight-early maturing (SE). Each year, in a nine year study, calves of each growth type were weaned and five steers of each growth type were developed on pasture or feedlot and harvested at approximately 20 and 14 mo of age, respectively. Data recorded were chilled carcass weight and percentages of forequarter, foreshank, chuck, rib, plate, brisket, hindquarter, round, rump, shortloin, sirloin, flank, lean, fat, bone, and retail cuts. The growth $type{\times}production$ system interaction was an important source of variation in chilled carcass weight (p = 0.0395) and percentage retail cuts (p = 0.001), lean (p = 0.001), fat (p = 0.001), rump (p = 0.0454), shortloin (p = 0.0487), and flank (p = 0.001). The ranking of the growth $type{\times}production$ system means for percentage lean was LL-pasture>IL-pasture = IE-pasture = SE-pasture>LL-feedlot, IL-feedlot>IE-feedlot = SE-feedlot. The growth $type{\times}production$ system interaction was non-significant (p>0.05) for forequarter, foreshank, chuck, rib, plate, brisket, hindquarter, round and bone. Growth types of IE and SE yielded greater (p<0.05) mean forequarter than did growth types of IL and LL ($51.6{\pm}0.3$ and $51.5{\pm}0.3$ vs. $51.1{\pm}0.3$ and $50.8{\pm}0.3%$). Mean bone was highest (p<0.05) for the LL growth type and lowest (p<0.05) for the SE growth type ($19.5{\pm}0.5$ vs. $16.8{\pm}0.5%$). Mean bone was greater (p<0.05) for the pastured steers than for the feedlot steers ($21.8{\pm}0.8$ vs. $14.5{\pm}0.6%$). These data indicate that growth type responded differently in the two production systems and that these results should be helpful in the match of genetics to production resources.

Comparison of Methodologies to Quantify Phytate Phosphorus in Diets Containing Phytase and Excreta from Broilers

de P. Naves, L.,Rodrigues, P.B.,Bertechini, A.G.,Correa, A.D.,de Oliveira, D.H.,de Oliveira, E.C.,Duarte, W.F.,da Cunha, M.R.R. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2014 Animal Bioscience Vol.27 No.7

The use of a suitable methodology to quantify the phytate phosphorus ($P_{phy}$) content in both the feed and the excreta from broilers is required to enable accurate calculation of the catalytic efficiency of the phytase supplemented in the feed. This study was conducted to compare 2 analytical methodologies (colorimetry and also high-performance liquid chromatography with a refractive index detector) in order to calculate the phytase efficiency by utilizing the results from the methodology that was shown to be the most appropriate. One hundred and twenty broilers were distributed in a $(4+1){\times}2$ factorial arrangement, corresponding to 4 diets that were equally deficient in P supplemented with increasing levels of phytase (0, 750, 1,500, and 2,250 units of phytase activity - FTU - per kg of feed) plus 1 positive control diet without phytase, supplied to male and female birds. The result indicated that the colorimetric methodology with an extraction ratio of 1:20 (mass of sample in g:volume of the solvent extractor in mL) was shown to be the most adequate. There was no interaction between the phytase level and the sex of the broilers (p>0.05). Males consumed 12% more $P_{phy}$ than did females (p<0.01), but the sex of the broilers did not affect (p>0.05) the excretion and retention coefficient of $P_{phy}$. The increase in the phytase level of the diet reduced (linear, p<0.01) the $P_{phy}$ excretion. The greatest $P_{phy}$ retention was estimated at 87.85% when the diet contained 1,950 FTU/kg (p<0.01), indicating that it is possible to reduce the inorganic P in the formulation at an amount equivalent to 87.85% of the $P_{phy}$ content present in the feed, which, in this research, corresponds to a decrease in 2.86 g of P/kg of the feed.

Final overall survival analysis for the phase II RECORD-3 study of first-line everolimus followed by sunitinib versus first-line sunitinib followed by everolimus in metastatic RCC

Knox, J. J.,Barrios, C. H.,Kim, T. M.,Cosgriff, T.,Srimuninnimit, V.,Pittman, K.,Sabbatini, R.,Rha, S. Y.,Flaig, T. W.,Page, R. D.,Beck, J. T.,Cheung, F.,Yadav, S.,Patel, P.,Geoffrois, L.,Niolat, J.,B Oxford University Press 2017 ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY Vol.28 No.6

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>RECORD-3 compared everolimus and sunitinib as first-line therapy, and the sequence of everolimus followed by sunitinib at progression compared with the opposite (standard) sequence in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This final overall survival (OS) analysis evaluated mature data for secondary end points.</P><P><B>Patients and methods</B></P><P>Patients received either first-line everolimus followed by second-line sunitinib at progression (<I>n = </I>238) or first-line sunitinib followed by second-line everolimus (<I>n = </I>233). Secondary end points were combined first- and second-line progression-free survival (PFS), OS, and safety. The impacts of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and baseline levels of soluble biomarkers on OS were explored.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>At final analysis, median duration of exposure was 5.6 months for everolimus and 8.3 months for sunitinib. Median combined PFS was 21.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.1–26.7] with everolimus-sunitinib and 22.2 months (95% CI 16.0–29.8) with sunitinib-everolimus [hazard ratio (HR)<SUB>EVE-SUN/SUN-EVE</SUB>, 1.2; 95% CI 0.9–1.6]. Median OS was 22.4 months (95% CI 18.6–33.3) for everolimus-sunitinib and 29.5 months (95% CI 22.8–33.1) for sunitinib-everolimus (HR<SUB>EVE-SUN/SUN-EVE</SUB>, 1.1; 95% CI 0.9–1.4). The rates of grade 3 and 4 adverse events suspected to be related to second-line therapy were 47% with everolimus and 57% with sunitinib. Higher NLR and 12 soluble biomarker levels were identified as prognostic markers for poor OS with the association being largely independent of treatment sequences.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>Results of this final OS analysis support the sequence of sunitinib followed by everolimus at progression in patients with mRCC. The safety profiles of everolimus and sunitinib were consistent with those previously reported, and there were no unexpected safety signals.</P><P><B>Clinical Trials number</B></P><P>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00903175</P>

Toward high efficiency organic photovoltaic devices with enhanced thermal stability utilizing P3HT-b-P3PHT block copolymer additives

Zhu, M.,Kim, H.,Jang, Y.,Park, S.,Ryu, D.,Kim, K.,Tang, P.,Qiu, F.,Kim, D.,Peng, J. Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Vol.4 No.47

<P>Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have drawn an extensive amount of attention due to their low cost, processibility and flexibility. However, a cell based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) has a limited power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to the short exciton diffusion length of similar to 10 nm. We address this issue by designing a series of all-conjugated diblock copolymers, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(3-(6-diethylphosphonatohexyl) thiophene) (P3HT-b-P3PHT), intended for use as additives to improve the performance of P3HT:PC61BM-based photovoltaic devices. The PCE of the devices improved from 3.30% to 4.03% with the addition of P3HT-b-P3PHT (3 : 1). The thermal stability of devices with P3HT-b-P3PHT additives improved significantly relative to that of the P3HT:PC61BM reference device, where the devices including a copolymer with a higher P3PHT content exhibited a better thermal stability. It was found that the fill factor (FF) could be regulated by simply varying the block ratio of P3HT-b-P3PHT and played a crucial role in improving both the PCE and the thermal stability. The P3HT-b-P3PHT diffused at the P3HT:PC61BM interface, improved the miscibility between P3HT and PC61BM, optimized the nanoscale morphology of the photoactive layer, and reduced the active layer roughness, all of which improved the FF and thus contributed to an improvement in device performance.</P>

CYP2W1, CYP4F11 and CYP8A1 Polymorphisms and Interaction of CYP2W1 Genotypes with Risk Factors in Mexican Women with Breast Cancer

Cardenas-Rodriguez, N.,Lara-Padilla, E.,Bandala, C.,Lopez-Cruz, J.,Uscanga-Carmona, C.,Lucio-Monter, P.F.,Floriano-Sanchez, E. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Breast cancer (BCa) is the leading type of cancer in Mexican women. Genetic factors, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of P450 system, have been reported in BCa. In this report, and for the first time in the literature, we analyzed the rs3735684 (7021 G>A), rs11553651 (15016 G>T) and rs56195291 (60020 C>G) polymorphisms in the CYP2W1, 4F11 and 8A1 genes in patients with BCa and in healthy Mexican women to identify a potential association between these polymorphisms and BCa risk. Patients and controls were used for polymorphism analysis using an allelic discrimination assay with TaqMan probes and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Links with clinic-pathological characteristics were also analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the standard ${\chi}^2$ or Fisher exact test statistic. No significant differences were observed in the distributions of CYP2W1 (OR 8.6, 95%CI 0.43-172.5 P>0.05; OR 2.0, 95%CI 0.76-5.4, P>0.05) and CYP4F11 (OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.01-8.4 P>0.05) genotypes between the patients and controls. Only the CYP8A1 CC genotype was detected in patients with BCa and the controls. All polymorphism frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) in the controls (P>0.05). We found a significant association between BCa risk and smoking, use of oral contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), obesity, hyperglycemia, chronic diseases, family history of cancer and menopausal status in the population studied (P<0.05). Tobacco, oral contraceptive or HRT, chronic diseases and obesity or overweight were strongly associated with almost eight, thirty-five, nine and five-fold increased risk for BCa. Tobaco, obesity and hyperglycemia significantly increased the risk of BCa in the patients carrying variant genotypes of CYP2W1 (P<0.05). These results indicate that the CYP2W1 rs3735684, CYP4F11 rs11553651 and CYP8A1 rs56195291 SNPs are not a key risk factor for BCa in Mexican women. This study did not detect an association between the CYP2W1, 4F11 and 8A1 genes polymorphisms and BCa risk in a Mexican population. However, some clinico-pathological risk factors interact with CYP2W1 genotypes and modifies susceptibility to BCa.

Factors Affecting Reproductive Performance in the Nepalese Pakhribas Pig: Effects of Nutrition and Housing during Lactation

Shrestha, N.P.,Edwards, S.A.,English, P.R.,Robertson, J.F. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.5

The effects of housing and nutrition on the performance of first lactation sows of the Nepalese Pakhribas breed were investigated. A total of 36 sows, from a previous experiment on nutrition during gilt rearing, were allocated according to a factorial design with 2 levels of nutrition, 60 or 80% of the calculated lactation requirement, and two types of housing, traditional or improved. The mean live weight loss of sows during lactation was reduced to a slightly greater extent by improved housing (p<0.05) than by better nutrition (p<0.10). There was also a significantly lower loss of $P_2$ backfat thickness (p<0.05) and mean body condition score (p<0.05) for sows on the higher plane of nutrition. Piglet weight gain in early and mid lactation was influenced by gestation feeding of the gilt (p<0.10) and by housing (p<0.05). Late lactation gain was influenced only by lactation feeding (p<0.05). In consequence, piglet weight at 42 day weaning was increased to a similar extent by improved housing (p<0.05) and better lactation nutrition (p<0.01). Significantly more sows were remated by day 10 after weaning from a higher level of rearing nutrition ($x^2=13.57$, p=0.001), and from improved housing and improved lactation (both $x^2=4.57$, p=0.033). It is concluded that, under Nepalese village conditions, improvements in housing may be a more cost effective way of improving sow performance than expenditure on additional feed resources.

Vitamin E improves antioxidant status but not lipid metabolism in laying hens fed a aged corn-containing diet

Ding, X.M.,Mu, Y.D.,Zhang, K.Y.,Wang, J.P.,Bai, S.P.,Zeng, Q.F.,Peng, H.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.2

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether a dietary vitamin E (VE) supplement could alleviate any detrimental effects of aged corn on lipid metabolism and antioxidant status in laying hens. Methods: The experiment consisted of a 2×3 factorial design with two corn types (normal corn and aged corn (stored for 4 yr) and three concentrations of VE (0, 20, and 100 IU/kg). A total of 216 Lohmann laying hens (50 wk of age) were randomly allocated into six treatment diets for 12 wk. Each treatment had 6 replicates of 6 hens per replicate. Results: The results show that aged corn significantly decreased the content of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05), and reduced chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) mRNA expression (p<0.05) in the liver compared to controls. Diet with VE did not alter the content of crude fat and cholesterol (p>0.05), or acetyl-CoA carboxylase, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthase or CMKLR1 mRNA expression (p>0.05) in the liver among treatment groups. Aged corn significantly increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.05) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p<0.05) in the liver. The VE increased the content of MDA (p<0.05) but decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum (p<0.01) and in the ovaries (p<0.05). Adding VE at 20 and 100 IU/kg significantly increased GSH-Px activity (p<0.05) in liver and in serum (p<0.01), 100 IU/kg VE significantly increased SOD activity (p<0.05) in serum. Aged corn had no significant effects on GSH-Px mRNA or SOD mRNA expression (p<0.01) in the liver and ovaries. Addition of 100 IU/kg VE could significantly increase SOD mRNA expression (p<0.01) in the liver and ovary. Conclusion: Aged corn affected lipid metabolism and decreased the antioxidant function of laying hens. Dietary VE supplementation was unable to counteract the negative effects of aged corn on lipid metabolism. However, addition of 100 IU/kg VE prevented aged corninduced lipid peroxidation in the organs of laying hens.