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A light has been thrown on the degree of efficiency in the world of rapid information. CNBC gives the complete detail about the price of stocks, which everyone is looking for in the morning. Market efficiency mainly relies on many factors but the important one is vigilant market participation.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of an individual's efficiency in utilizing feed for maintenance and production during growth or lactation, and is defined as the difference between the actual and predicted feed intake of that individual. The objective of this study was to relate RFI to feeding behavior and to identify behavioral differences between animals with divergent RFI. The intakes and body weight (BW) of 1,049 growing dairy heifers (aged 5-9 mo; 195 ± 25.8 kg of BW) in 5 cohorts were measured for 42 to 49 d to ascertain individual RFI. Animals were housed in an outdoor feeding facility comprising 28 pens, each with 8 animals and 1 feeder per pen, and were fed a dried, cubed alfalfa diet. This forage diet was chosen because most dairy cows in New Zealand are grazed on ryegrass-dominant pastures, without grain or concentrates. An electronic feed monitoring system measured the intake and feeding behavior of individuals. Feeding behavior was summarized as daily intake, daily feeding duration, meal frequency, feeding rate, meal size, meal duration, and temporal feeding patterns. The RFI was moderately to strongly correlated with intake in all cohorts (r = 0.54-0.74), indicating that efficient animals ate less than inefficient animals, but relationships with feeding behavior traits (meal frequency, feeding duration, and feeding rate) were weak (r = 0.14-0.26), indicating that feeding behavior cannot reliably predict RFI in growing dairy heifers. Comparison of the extremes of RFI (10% most and 10% least efficient) demonstrated similar BW and average daily gain for both groups, but efficient animals ate less; had fewer, longer meals; shorter daily feeding duration; and ate more slowly than the least-efficient animals. These groups also differed in their feeding patterns over 24 h, with the most efficient animals eating less and having fewer meals during daylight (0600 to 2100 h), especially during the afternoon (1200 to 1800 h), but ate for a longer time during the night (0000-0600 h) than the least-efficient animals. In summary, correlations between RFI and feeding behavior were weak. Small differences in feeding behavior were observed between the most- and least-efficient animals but adverse behavioral effects associated with such selection in growing dairy heifers are unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum specimen pipetting is a labor-intensive process that can be a source of laboratory error, ergonomic stress, and a potential source of accidental exposure to infectious pathogens. Automated solutions for sample preparation reduce time spent on sample handling, minimize exposure to infectious pathogens, reduce laboratory error, reduce ergonomic stress, and save money. A fully automated method was developed for a custom-designed competitive Luminex immunoassay (cLIA) on a TECAN Genesis Workstation that measures antibodies to human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particles (VLPs). The automated program generated statistically similar data to assays performed manually. Overall, HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 antibody titers obtained from samples prepared with the automated program were 3.2%, 6.6%, 3.6%, and 2.0% higher, respectively, than antibody titers from samples prepared manually. The agreement rates between methods for HPV positive and negative samples for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 were 100%, 96.8%, 98.4%, and 97.3%, respectively. An overview of the basic workflow of the automated HPV cLIA used to support our HPV vaccine Phase III clinical trials is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is assumed to be the major cause of anemia in northeast Thailand, but other factors may be involved. OBJECTIVE: We determined the prevalence of anemia among schoolchildren in northeast Thailand and the role of hemoglobinopathies, selected micronutrient deficiencies, and other factors in hemoglobin status. DESIGN: Blood samples were collected from 567 children aged 6-12.9 y attending 10 primary schools for the determination of a complete blood count and hemoglobin type [Hb AA (normal hemoglobin), Hb AE (heterozygous for Hb type E), and Hb EE (homozygous for Hb type E)] and the measurement of serum ferritin, transferrin receptor, retinol, vitamin B-12, and plasma and erythrocyte folate concentrations. Children with a C-reactive protein concentration > or = 10 mg/L (n = 12), which indicated infection, were excluded. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 31%. Age, hemoglobin type, and serum retinol were the major predictors of hemoglobin concentration. Hb AA and Hb AE children with anemia had lower (P < 0.01) hematocrit, mean cell volume, and serum retinol values than did their nonanemic counterparts; no significant differences in serum ferritin were found by hemoglobin type. Only 16% (n = 22) of the anemic Hb AA and Hb AE children were iron deficient. Hb AA and Hb AE children with a serum retinol concentration <0.70 micromol/L (n = 14) had a significantly higher geometric mean serum ferritin concentration than did those with a retinol concentration > or = 0.70 micromol/L (P = 0.009); no significant difference in transferrin receptor concentrations was found between these 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoglobinopathies, suboptimal vitamin A status, and age were the major predictors of hemoglobin concentration. The contribution of iron deficiency to anemia was low, and its detection was complicated by coexisting suboptimal vitamin A status. Copyright © 2005 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of selenium and zinc in the immune functioning of the aged is widely recognized. Seniors in New Zealand are at particularly high risk of low selenium status because of the low selenium soil environment. The zinc status of the New Zealand elderly has never been assessed. In this cross-sectional study, the biochemical selenium, zinc and lipid levels, physical functional capacity and dietary intakes of 103 randomly selected free-living New Zealand women (mean age +/- SD, 75 +/- 3 y) were assessed. Among nonusers of selenium supplements (n = 80), 80% [95% confidence interval (CI): 70; 88%] had plasma selenium levels (0.85 +/- 0.23 micromol/L) below 1.00 micromol/L [ approximately 10% below mean plasma selenium necessary for full expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in New Zealand subjects]. Plasma selenium was strongly correlated with GPx: r = 0.56; P < 0.0001. For nonusers of zinc supplements (n = 88), serum zinc concentrations were 12.4 +/- 1.4 micromol/L, with 12% (95% CI: 6; 21%) having levels below the cut-off value (10.7 micromol/L). Estimated mean daily selenium and zinc intakes were 34 +/- 10 microg and 8.7 +/- 2.0 mg, respectively. Subjects in the highest tertile of a functional capacity index had higher biochemical zinc and selenium values than those in the lowest tertile (P < 0.05). The correlation between plasma selenium and GPx indicates that selenium intake in these women is still insufficient for full expression of GPx activity. Lower serum zinc levels also appear to be prevalent. Because a suboptimal trace element status may be more common among those with a poor physical functioning, promotion of the consumption of nutrient dense foods or supplements to improve selenium and zinc status of elderly women in New Zealand may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to validate a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 3-d weighed food record (3d-WFR) by comparing nutrient intakes estimated using these methods with serum folate, RBC folate and serum vitamin B-12 concentrations in 105 females aged 16-19 y. During an early morning clinic visit, subjects completed a self-administered, 116-item FFQ, blood was collected and they were trained to complete a 3d-WFR. Folate intakes as determined by the 3d-WFR (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) exhibited a stronger association with serum folate than did intakes from the FFQ (r = 0.48, P < 0.01) (P = 0.017). The correlations between folate intakes and RBC folate as determined by the FFQ (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and 3d-WFR (r = 0.50, P < 0.01) methods did not differ. Vitamin B-12 intakes showed only a modest association with serum vitamin B-12 when supplement users were included in the analyses (FFQ, r = 0.25, P < 0.05; 3d-WFR, r = 0.32, P < 0.05). After excluding supplement users from the analyses, the relationship between vitamin B-12 intakes as determined by FFQ and serum vitamin B-12 was no longer significant. Median daily folate intakes (346 vs. 212 microgram) and vitamin B-12 (4.9 vs. 1.9 microgram) estimated from the FFQ were higher than those obtained from the 3d-WFR. In sum, these data suggest that both the FFQ and 3d-WFR are valid measures of assessing the folate intake of young women, and both appear to be useful in determining vitamin B-12 intake when supplemental users are included. The markedly different conclusions about absolute folate and vitamin B-12 intakes obtained using these two dietary methodologies should be taken into consideration when making recommendations about optimal folate intakes in relation to disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 2314 trees was sampled from 170 randomly located plots toinvestigate ecological community relationships and species similarities of the vegetation covering the 12 000 ha Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama. Thirty-two tree species, 14 vegetation types and 10 landtypes were identified. Within each plot, the species were ranked based on their basal area to determine the relative importance of the species. Avariety of species including white oak (Quercus alba L.), post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), sugar maple(Acer saccharum Marsh.), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.), pignut hickory (Carya glabra Sweet) and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were important species differentiating the ecological communities. Percent basal area (BA%) of each species in the plots was also computed. The vegetation-types andlandtypes were characterized by average ranks and BA% of the species. Relationships between the vegetation-types were examined by clusteranalysis. (c) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]