Influence of Ionophore Supplementation on Growth Performance, Dietary Energetics and Carcass Characteristics in Finishing Cattle during Period of Heat Stress

Barreras, A.,Castro-Perez, B.I.,Lopez-Soto, M.A.,Torrentera, N.G.,Montano, M.F.,Estrada-Angulo, A.,Rios, F.G.,Davila-Ramos, H.,Plascencia, A.,Zinn, R.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.11

Forty-eight crossbred heifers ($378.1{\pm}18$ kg) were used in a 56-d feeding trial (four pens per treatment in a randomised complete block design) to evaluate the influence of ionophore supplementation on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics in finishing cattle during a period of heat stress. Heifers were fed a diet based on steam-flaked corn (2.22 Mcal $NE_m/kg$) with and without an ionophore. Treatments were: i) control, no ionophore; ii) 30 mg/kg monensin sodium (RUM30); iii) 20 mg/kg lasalocid sodium (BOV20), and iv) 30 mg/kg lasalocid sodium (BOV30). Both dry matter intake (DMI) and climatic variables were measured daily and the temperature humidity index (THI) was estimated. The maximum THI during the study averaged 93, while the minimum was 70 (THI average = $79.2{\pm}2.3$). Compared to controls, monensin supplementation did not influence average daily gain, the estimated NE value of the diet, or observed-to-expected DMI, but tended (p = 0.07) to increase (4.8%) gain to feed. Compared to controls, the group fed BOV30 increased ($p{\leq}0.03$) daily gain (11.8%), gain to feed (8.3%), net energy of the diet (5%), and observed-to-expected DMI (5.2%). Daily weight gain was greater (7.6%, p = 0.05) for heifers fed BOV30 than for heifers fed MON30. Otherwise, differences between the two treatments in DMI, gain to feed, and dietary NE were not statistically significant (p>0.11). Plotting weekly intakes versus THI, observed intake of controls was greater (p<0.05) at THI values ${\leq}77$ than ionophore groups. When THI values were greater than 79, DMI of control and MON30 were not different (p = 0.42), although less than that of groups fed lasalocid (p = 0.04). Variation in energy intake was lower (p>0.05) in the ionophores group (CV = 1.7%) than in the control group (CV = 4.5%). Inclusion of ionophores in the diet resulted in relatively minor changes in carcass characteristics. It is concluded that ionophore supplementation did not exacerbate the decline of DM intake in heat-stressed cattle fed a high-energy finishing diet; on the contrary, it stabilised feed intake and favoured feed efficiency. Ionophore supplementation reduced estimated maintenance coefficients around 10% in finishing cattle during a period of heat stress. This effect was greatest for heifers supplemented with 30 mg lasalocid/kg of diet.

Effects of Combining Feed Grade Urea and a Slow-release Urea Product on Characteristics of Digestion, Microbial Protein Synthesis and Digestible Energy in Steers Fed Diets with Different Starch:ADF Ratios

Lopez-Soto, M.A.,Rivera-Mendez, C.R.,Aguilar-Hernandez, J.A.,Barreras, A.,Calderon-Cortes, J.F.,Plascencia, A.,Davila-Ramos, H.,Estrada-Angulo, A.,Valdes-Garcia, Y.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2014 Animal Bioscience Vol.27 No.2

As a result of the cost of grains, the replacement of grains by co-products (i.e. DDGS) in feedlot diets is a common practice. This change produces diets that contain a lower amount of starch and greater amount of fibre. Hypothetically, combining feed grade urea (U) with slow release urea (Optigen) in this type of diet should elicit a better synchrony between starch (high-rate of digestion) and fibre (low-rate of digestion) promoting a better microbial protein synthesis and ruminal digestion with increasing the digestible energy of the diet. Four cannulated Holstein steers ($213{\pm}4$ kg) were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to examine the combination of Optigen and U in a finishing diet containing different starch:acid detergent fibre ratios (S:F) on the characteristics of digestive function. Three S:F ratios (3.0, 4.5, and 6.0) were tested using a combination of U (0.80%) and Optigen (1.0%). Additionally, a treatment of 4.5 S:F ratio with urea (0.80% in ration) as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used to compare the effect of urea combination at same S:F ratio. The S:F ratio of the diet was manipulated by replacing the corn grain by dried distillers grain with solubles and roughage. Urea combination did not affect ruminal pH. The S:F ratio did not affect ruminal pH at 0 and 2 h post-feeding but, at 4 and 6 h, the ruminal pH decreased as the S:F ratio increased (linear, p<0.05). Ruminal digestion of OM, starch and feed N were not affected by urea combination or S:F ratio. The urea combination did not affect ADF ruminal digestion. ADF ruminal digestion decreased linearly (p = 0.02) as the S:F ratio increased. Compared to the urea treatment (p<0.05) and within the urea combination treatment (quadratic, p<0.01), the flow of microbial nitrogen (MN) to the small intestine and ruminal microbial efficiency were greater for the urea combination at a S:F ratio of 4.5. Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved (2.8%, p = 0.02) postruminal N digestion. As S:F ratio increased, OM digestion increased, but ADF total tract digestion decreased. The combination of urea at 4.5 S:F improved (2%, p = 0.04) the digestible energy (DE) more than expected. Combining urea and Optigen resulted in positive effects on the MN flow and DE of the diet, but apparently these advantages are observed only when there is a certain proportion of starch:ADF in the diet.

Effects of Combining Feed Grade Urea and a Slow-release Urea Product on Performance, Dietary Energetics and Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Lambs Fed Finishing Diets with Different Starch to Acid Detergent Fiber Ratios

Estrada-Angulo, A.,Lopez-Soto, M.A.,Rivera-Mendez, C.R.,Castro, B.I.,Rios, F.G.,Davila-Ramos, H.,Barreras, A.,Urias-Estrada, J.D.,Zinn, R.A.,Plascencia, A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.12

Recent findings have shown that microbial nitrogen flow and digestible energy of diets are increased when urea is combined with a slow-release urea (SRU) in diets with a starch to acid detergent fibre ratio (S:F) 4:1. This affect is attributable to enhanced synchrony between ruminal N availability for microbial growth and carbohydrate degradation. To verify the magnitude of this effects on lamb performance, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combining urea and a SRU in diets containing S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 on performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. For that, 40 Pelibuey${\times}$Katahdin lambs ($36.65{\pm}3kg$) were assigned to one of five weight groupings in 20 pens (5 repetition/treatments). The S:F ratio in the diet was manipulated by partially replacing the corn grain and dried distiller's grain with solubles by forage (wheat straw) and soybean meal to reach S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1 or 5:1. An additional treatment of 4:1 S:F ratio with 0.8% urea as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used as a reference for comparing the effect of urea combination vs. conventional urea at the same S:F ratio. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake (DMI). Compared the urea combination vs urea at the same S:F ratio, urea combination increased (p<0.01) average daily gain (ADG, 18.3%), gain for feed (G:F, 9.5%), and apparent energy retention per unit DMI (8.2%). Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved the observed-to-expected dietary ratio and apparent retention per unit DMI was maximal (quadratic effect, $p{\leq}0.03$) at an S:F ratio of 4:1, while the conventional urea treatment did not modify the observed-to-expected net energy ratio nor the apparent retention per unit DMI at 4:1 S:F ratio. Urea combination group tended (3.8%, p = 0.08) to have heavier carcasses with no effects on the rest of carcass characteristics. As S:F ratio increased, ADG, G:F, dietary net energy, carcass weight, dressing percentage and longissimus thoracis (LM) area increased linearly ($p{\leq}0.02$). Combining urea and a slow-release urea product results in positive effects on growth performance and dietary energetics, but the best responses are apparently observed when there is a certain proportion (S:F ratio = 4:1) of starch to acid detergent fibre in the diet.

The Dual Drivers in Intuitive Design Thinking: Myself and Making

Bertha Patricia Barrera Garza,James A. Self 한국디자인학회 2023 디자인학연구 Vol.36 No.4

Background : Design thinking is a problem-solving process, currently being used outside of the design domain in workshop format by companies around the world. Although both intuition and making are considered a crucial part in design thinking, little empirical research explores the possibility for making to enhance the application of intuition. In this study, we investigate the role and use of intuition and making in design thinking. Methods : In a controlled, comparative approach, teams participated in guided design thinking workshops. The teams explored a design problem, outlined pain points, and proposed a solution at the end of the workshop. Using independent measures, a control group in the non-making condition followed the traditional design thinking workshop approach, while in a making condition, a making activity was introduced at the start of the workshop using the Lego Serious Play © methodology replacing a graphing activity during the empathy stage, with the rest of the workshop following the traditional design thinking methodology. All workshops were video recorded. An analysis of the recordings was conducted, with time participants engaged making timestamped and compiled. The decisions of each participant were counted and sorted into three types: low, medium, and high-level decisions. High level decisions were used as evidence of the application of intuition. Results : The making activity at the start of the workshop increased the number of high-level decisions in comparison to the non-making condition. The use of Lego in the making condition not only increased the time the participants made but showed that both making and decisions were increasingly distributed across the design thinking workshop. Each participant had a predisposition for the use of their intuition, and by using the Myers Briggs type indicator, intuitive participants were found to have increased high-level decisions. Conclusions : The application of intuitive judgment during design thinking workshops depends upon the individual’s predisposition to use their own intuitions. Opportunity to engage in the making activity also acts as a catalyst for enhancing the use of intuition. To encourage participants of the design thinking workshop to employ their expertise, we suggest making as a driver for experience-based intuitive judgment. For those less inclined to apply intuition, making acts as stimulation. For more intuitive participants, making can enhance their use of intuition.

Comparative evaluation of supplemental zilpaterol hydrochloride sources on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs

A. Rivera-Villegas,A. Estrada-Angulo,B.I. Castro-Perez,J.D. Urias-Estrada,F.G. Rios-Rincon,D. Rodriguez-Cordero,A. Barreras,A. Plascencia,V.M.Gonzalez-Vizcarra,J.F. Sosa-Gordillo,R.A. Zinn 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.2

Objective: We compare the effects of three different approved sources of supplemental zilpaterol on growth-performance responses and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. Methods: Twenty four Pelibuey×Katahdin lambs (46.75±2.43 kg) were used in a 33-day feeding trial. Lambs were fed a dry rolled corn-based finishing diet. Treatments consisted of the non-supplemental basal diet (Control) versus the basal diet supplemented with 125 mg zilpaterol/kg of diet (as fed basis) from three commercial sources marketed in Mexico: Zilmax (ZIL), Grofactor, and Zipamix. Results: Compared to controls, zilpaterol (ZH) supplementation did not affect dry matter intake (DMI), but increased carcass adjusted daily weight gain (ADG, 36.7%), gain efficiency (34.2%), and dietary net energy (26.0%), and decreased (23.4%) the ratio of observed:expected DMI. Compared to controls, supplemental ZH increased hot carcass weight (6.4%), dressing percentage (3.2%), m. longissimus thoracis (LM) area (15.6%), and shoulder muscle:fat ratio (28.7%), but decreased kidney-pelvic-heart fat, and fat thickness. Supplemental ZH increased 10.9% and 14.3% whole cut weight of loin and leg, respectively, and the proportion (as percentage of cold carcass weight) of leg (4.3%). These increases were reflected in greater forequarter and hindquarter weights. Lambs fed ZH increased (4.6%) empty body weight (EBW) and reduced (14.7%) liver/spleen weight (as g/kg EBW). Likewise, ZH supplementation tended (p = 0.08) to lower (8.9%) visceral fat. Growth performance, energetic efficiency, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, LM area and whole cuts were not different across supplemental ZH sources. However, compared with non-supplemented controls, only ZIL appreciably decreased carcass fat distribution, including fat thickness, percentage kidney pelvic and heart fat, shoulder fat, and visceral fat. Conclusion: Supplemental ZH increases ADG, gain efficiency, carcass dressing percentage, and LM area. The magnitude of these responses was similar among ZH sources. Nevertheless, compared with non-supplemented controls, only ZIL appreciably decreases carcass fat. The basis for this is uncertain, but indicative that some practical differences in zilpaterol bio-equivalency may exist across commercial sources tested.

A Simple Metabolic Flux Balance Analysis of Biomass and Bioethanol Production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fed-batch Cultures

Iliana Barrera-Martinez,R. Axayácatl González-García,Edgar Salgado-Manjarrez,Juan S. Aranda-Barradas 한국생물공학회 2011 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.16 No.1

Production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast for applications in the food industry or in bioethanol production still presents important techno-economic challenges as an industrial bioprocess. Mathematical modeling of cellular metabolism in biological production usually improves process yields, though for industrial applications,the model should be as simple as possible in order to sustain model usefulness and technical feasibility. A comparative analysis between a black box description and a simple metabolic network accounting for the main metabolic events involved in yeast growth and bioethanol production is proposed here. In both cases, a thorough analysis of reaction rates allowed for the ethanol concentrations produced in fed-batch yeast cultures, although our results showed more accurate estimations with the metabolic flux balance methodology. Moreover, an interpretation of the yeast physiological state in fed-batch cultures at different glucose feed concentrations was accomplished by means of a stoichiometric analysis linked to the simplified metabolic network. The results confirmed that increasing glucose uptake rates, controlled mainly by the glucose concentration in the input flow, produced an up-regulation in reductive catabolism, resulting in higher ethanol excretion. The biomass production relied mostly on oxidative catabolism,which is controlled by the glucose and oxygen uptake rates. Thus, ethanol or biomass production is strongly dependent on the physiological state of yeast in the culture, which can be inferred from a suitable metabolic flux balance approach.

Aggrecan catabolism during mesenchymal stromal cell in vitro chondrogenesis

María Lucía Gutiérrez,Johana María Guevara,Olga Yaneth Echeverri,Diego Garzón-Alvarado,Luis Alejandro Barrera 한국통합생물학회 2013 Animal cells and systems Vol.17 No.4

During skeleton formation, mesenchymal cells condense and differentiate into chondrocytes in a process known as chondrogenesis. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), main components of aggrecan in the extracellular matrix (ECM),have an important role in this process. An in vitro simplified system has been devised to study chondrogenesis using mesenchymal progenitor cells. Although the capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into the chondrogenic lineage is well established, there is a lack of knowledge with respect to lysosomal enzyme activity during the chondrogenic process. To further understand GAG’s catabolic activities during in vitro chondrogenesis, we evaluated three lysosomal enzymes. Chondrogenic differentiation was demonstrated by Alcian blue positive stain quantified by a grading system using ImageJ. Enzyme activity for N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase during chondrogenic induction decreased significantly with time of culture; b-galactosidase enzyme activity had a similar tendency of temporal activity. On the contrary, b-glucuronidase enzyme activity decreased from the first to second week of induction, but remained the same during the third week of culture. Aggrecan’s immunohistochemistry values for aggregates under chondrogenic induction revealed a similar temporal pattern to that of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase and b-galactosidase enzyme activity. This work has contributed to the evaluation of enzyme activities associated with GAG degradation, critical component of cartilage ECM. These findings are relevant in understanding the role of enzymes responsible for degradation of molecules predominantly synthesized in the chondrogenic differentiation process. A better understanding of the roles of these enzymes during development could help elucidate further association of deficiencies of these enzymes in skeletal pathologies, primarily chondrodysplasias.

A digital microfluidic interface between solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Choi, K.,Boyaci, E.,Kim, J.,Seale, B.,Barrera-Arbelaez, L.,Pawliszyn, J.,Wheeler, A.R. Elsevier 2016 Journal of chromatography Vol.1444 No.-

<P>We introduce a method to couple solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with HPLC-MS using digital microfluidics (DMF). In the new system, SPME fibers are used to extract analytes from complex sample solutions, after which the analytes are desorbed into solvent droplets in a DMF device. The open geometry of DMF allows straightforward insertion of SPME fibers without requiring a complicated interface, and automated droplet manipulation enables multiplexed processing of the fibers. In contrast to other multiplexed SPME elution interfaces, the low volumes inherent to DMF allow for pre-concentration of analytes prior to analysis. The new SPME-DMF-HPLC-MS method was applied to the quantification of pg/mL-level free steroid hormones in urine. We propose that this new method will be useful for a wide range of applications requiring cleanup and pre-concentration with convenient coupling to high-performance analytical techniques. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

IL-32, a proinflammatory cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis

Joosten, L. A. B.,Netea, M. G.,Kim, S.-H.,Yoon, D.-Y.,Oppers-Walgreen, B.,Radstake, T. R. D.,Barrera, P.,van de Loo, F. A. J.,Dinarello, C. A.,van den Berg, W. B. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2006 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.103 No.9

<P>IL-32 is a recently discovered cytokine that induces TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and chemokines. We investigated whether IL-32 is expressed in the synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and studied associations with disease severity and the presence of other cytokines. Immunohistochemistry revealed that IL-32 is highly expressed in RA synovial tissue biopsies, whereas IL-32 was not observed in synovial tissues from patients with osteoarthritis. Moreover, in synovial biopsies from 29 RA patients with active disease, the level of IL-32 staining correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a marker of systemic inflammation (R = 0.63 and P < 0.0003). Synovial staining of IL-32 also correlated with indices of synovial inflammation (R = 0.80 and P < 0.0001) as well as synovial presence of TNFalpha (R = 0.68 and P < 0.004), IL-1beta (R = 0.79 and P < 0.0001), and IL-18 (R = 0.82 and P < 0.001). IL-32 was a potent inducer of prostaglandin E(2) release in mouse macrophages and human blood monocytes, an important property for inflammation. After the injection of human IL-32gamma into the knee joints of naïve mice, joint swelling, with pronounced influx of inflammatory cells and cartilage damage, was observed. In TNFalpha-deficient mice, IL-32-driven joint swelling was absent and cell influx was markedly reduced, but loss of proteoglycan was unaffected, suggesting that IL-32 activity is, in part, TNFalpha-dependent. IL-32, strongly associated with TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-18, appears to play a role in human RA and may be a novel target in autoimmune diseases.</P>

Influence of Quaternary Benzophenantridine and Protopine Alkaloids on Growth Performance, Dietary Energy, Carcass Traits, Visceral Mass, and Rumen Health in Finishing Ewes under Conditions of Severe Temperature-humidity Index

Estrada-Angulo, A.,Aguilar-Hernandez, A.,Osuna-Perez, M.,Nunez-Benitez, V.H.,Castro-Perez, B.I.,Silva-Hidalgo, G.,Contreras-Perez, G.,Barreras, A.,Plascencia, A.,Zinn, R.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.5

Twenty $Pelibuey{\times}Katahdin$ ewes ($35{\pm}2.3kg$) were used to determine the effects of the consumption of standardized plant extract containing a mixture of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids and protopine alkaloids (QBA+PA) on growth performance, dietary energetics, visceral mass, and ruminal epithelial health in heat-stressed ewes fed with a high-energy corn-based diet. The basal diet (13.9% crude protein and 2.09 Mcal of net energy [NE] of maintenance/kg of dry matter) contained 49.7% starch and 15.3% neutral detergent fiber. Source of QBA+PA was Sangrovit RS (SANG) which contains 3 g of quaternary benzophenathridine and protopine alkaloids per kg of product. Treatments consisted of a daily consumption of 0 or 0.5 g SANG/ewe. Ewes were grouped by weight and assigned to 10 pens (5 pens/treatment), with two ewes per pen. The experimental period lasted 70 days. The mean temperature humidity index during the course of this experiment was $81.7{\pm}1.0$ (severe heat stress). There were no treatment effects on water intake. Dry matter intake was not affected (p = 0.70) by treatments, but the group fed SANG had a numerically (11.2%) higher gain in comparison to the control group, SANG improved gain efficiency (8.3%, p = 0.04), dietary NE (5.2%, p<0.01) and the observed-to-expected NE (5.9%, p<0.01). Supplemental SANG did not affect ($p{\geq}0.12$) carcass characteristics, chemical composition of shoulder, and organ weights (g/kg empty body weight) of stomach complex, intestines, and heart/lung. Supplemental SANG decreased liver weight (10.3%, p = 0.02) and increased visceral fat (16.9%, p = 0.02). Rumen epithelium of ewes fed SANG had lower scores for cellular dropsical degeneration (2.08 vs 2.34, p = 0.02), parakeratosis (1.30 vs 1.82, p = 0.03) and neutrophil infiltration (2.08 vs 2.86, p = 0.05) than controls. It is concluded that SANG supplementation helped ameliorate the negative effects of severe heat on growth performance of feedlot ewes fed high-energy corn-based diets. Improvement in energetic efficiency may have been mediated, in part, by anti-inflammatory effects of supplemental SANG and corresponding enhancement of nutrient uptake.