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To determine the risk factors of osteoporosis and osteopenia of the spine in postmenopausal women. An analytical cross-sectional study was performed on postmenopausal women. The T-score of the lumbar spine (L2–L4) was measured by densitometry and compared between osteoporotic, osteopenia, and normal women. One thousand three hundred fify-nine postmenopausal women were evaluated. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 58.2% and 12.8% respectively. Age, BMI, parity, total breastfeeding years, dairy use, calcium-D supplements, and regular exercise were significantly different in women with osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal women. Ethnicity, diabetes, and previous fracture history were only other among women with osteoporosis (not osteopenia) and normal women. For osteopenia of the spine, age [AOR 1.08 (1.05–1.11; p <.001)] was the risk factor, and BMI = >30 [AOR 0.36 (0.28–0.58; p <.001)] and BMI 25–<30 [AOR 0.55 (0.34–0.88; p =.012)] were protective factors. Hyperthyroidism (AOR 23.43, p =.010), Kurdish ethnicity (AOR 2.96, p =.009), not having regular exercise (AOR 2.22, p =.012), previous fracture history (AOR 2.15, p =.041)], and age (AOR 1.14, p <.001)], were risk factors for osteoporosis, while BMI ≥30 [AOR 0.09, p <.001], BMI 25–<30 [AOR 0.28, p =.001], and diabetes [AOR 0.41, p =.038] were protective factors for osteoporosis of the spine. Hyperthyroidism, low BMI <25, parity ≥ 6, Kurdish ethnicity, not having regular exercise, history of previous fracture, and age, were risk factors for osteoporosis of the spine respectively, while low BMI and age were risk factors for osteopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the exploitation of renewable energies and technologies in order to reduce the restrictions of fossil fuels is the attention of energy managers and engineers. Additionally, energy production cycles based on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are known for their versatility in fuel intake. In this regard, in the current article the thermodynamic-conceptual assessment of a novel combined energy system (CES) based on biomass gasification is developed. The proposed CES is comprised of four main units: a biomass gasification unit, a reformer fuel cell unit (based on SOFC), a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU), and an ignition engine (homogeneous charge compression type). The biomass gasification unit is considered as a fuel supply unit of proposed energy process. A larger fraction of CES electricity is produced through the fuel cell unit. Moreover, additional electric power is produced through the ignition engine (IE) unit. The combustible fuel for IE unit is obtained during the chemical reactions of the fuel cell unit. Further, the WHRU is responsible for the heat recovery of the fuel cell and IE units, which balances the thermal power of the process. Embedding of a unit to recover the heat of the fuel cell units and the engine can be improving the performance of the cycle. The main goal of the article is to provide a thermodynamic-conceptual evaluation of the system considering energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and environmental analysis to achieve a comprehensive feasibility study. According to the energy analysis, it was determined that the considered CES can produce around 1.09 MW of electricity and 0.36 MW of heat. Additionally, the values obtained for electrical and total energy efficiencies were 50.5% and 68.7%, respectively. The total exergy destroyed by the considered process and the total exergy efficiency were yielded as nearly 1.1 MW and 51.6%, respectively. Besides that, the specific cost rates of electric power yielded by fuel cell and IE units were almost 8.81 and 10.04 USD/GJ, indicating that the electric power produced through the fuel cell unit is a cheaper method. Moreover, compared to petroleum and coal-driven plants, the considered CES can reduce the amount of emitted CO2 by nearly 47.7% and 62.4%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this trial was to determine the amount of alfalfa hay (AH) in low forage diets that could be replaced with dried corn gluten feed (DCGF) without negatively altering eating behaviour, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and performance of lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment. Treatments included (dry matter [DM] basis): 18.81% AH without DCGF (0DCGF,); 12.53% AH and 6.26% DCGF (6DCGF); 6.26% AH and 12.53% DCGF (12DCGF); and 0% AH and 18.81% DCGF (18 DCGF). Diet particle size and physically effective neutral detergent fibre declined linearly (p <.001) as DCGF replaced AH resulting in a linear decrease (p <.001) in time (min/d) spent eating, ruminating, and chewing. As DCGF replaced AH, ruminal pH decreased linearly (p =.003) and total VFA concentrations increased linearly (p =.02) tending to be highest (p =.062) for 12DCGF. Ruminal acetate and butyrate, and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations declined linearly (p =.001) whereas ruminal propionate concentration increased linearly (p =.001) as DCGF increased. Dry matter intake (DMI; p =.001) and nutrient digestibility increased linearly (p <.05) and tended to be greatest (p <.10) for 12DCGF. Milk yield (MY; p =.016) and protein yield (p =.001) increased linearly, but milk fat yield declined as DCGF replaced 6 and 12% of AH and decreased more when DCGF replaced all AH resulting in a quadratic response (p =.041). Results of this trial suggest that replacing 12% of the AH with DCGF increases MY because of higher DMI and nutrient digestibility, but replacing all of the AH with DCGF reduces milk fat yield and dairy efficiency. DCGF can replace AH to improve nutrient digestibility and milk yield. Improvements in nutrient digestibility when DCGF replaces AH potentially reduce total waste production of dairy cows. Completely replacing AH with DCGF in low forage diets reduces milk fat yield due to change in ruminal fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of soybean oil, an oilseed rich in the polyunsaturated fatty acid C18:2, on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY) and milk composition (including fatty acid profile) of dairy cows by using a meta-analysis approach. In the meta-analysis, effect size for all outcomes was reported as standardised means difference with 95% confidence intervals. Q test and I2 were calculated to detect the heterogeneity, with a meta-regression also used to investigate sources of heterogeneity. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that adding soybean oil to the diet of dairy cows decreased DMI, milk fat percentage (MFP), milk fat yield (MFY) and milk protein percentage (MPP), whilst significantly increasing MY. Unsaturated fatty acids C18:2, C18:1 trans-11 and C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) all significantly increased with soybean oil inclusion in the diet, whereas C18:3 was numerically higher but not significantly different. Milk composition, including MFP, MFY, MPP, short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids (C4–C20) and unsaturated fatty acids showed a significant percentage of heterogeneity. Results of the meta-regression indicated that dose of soybean oil, total fatty acids in the diet, and the concentration of C18:2 between groups receiving soybean oil and control are the most important factors affecting this heterogeneity. By performing meta-analysis and meta-regression it can be concluded that dietary supplementation of soybean oil to lactating dairy cows decreased DMI, and increased MY and the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in milk. Soybean oil dietary supplementation to dairy cows increased milk yield but reduced milk fat content. Milk fat in soybean oil dietary supplemented cows has a lower content of short-chain fatty acids, associated with de novo synthesis. Milk fat in soybean oil dietary supplemented cows has a higher content of C18:1 trans-11, C18:2 and CLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the potential of Pb+2accumulation in different parts ofAcacia victoria, one year oldA. victoriaseedlings were exposed to Pb2+(NO3)2in 5 different concentrations: 0, 50, 250, 500 and 1000 (mg Pb2+L−1) for 45 days. Subsequently, Pb2+uptake was quantified in roots, shoots and leaves of the seedlings by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). In addition, some physiological parameters such as biomass production, shoots and roots length, plant appearance, tissue concentrations and chlorophyll content were examined. Tissue concentrations increased as Pb2+concentration increased forA. victoria. The visible toxicity symptoms (chlorosis and necrosis) appeared only to the highest concentration (1000 mg Pb2+L−1), resulting in photosynthesis decrease, plant height, root length and dry biomass reduction. Almost 70% (up to 3580 mg Kg−1of dry tissue) from the Pb2+was accumulated in the entire plant tissues was retained in the roots in the seedlings exposed to 1000 mg Pb2+L−1. The seedlings accumulated between 403 to 913 mg Kg−1of Pb2+in shoots and 286 to 650 mg Kg−1of Pb2+in leaves at different treatments. Bioconcentration and translocation factors were determined 5.14 and 0.255, respectively. The results show thatA. victoriais suitable for lead-phytostabilization in Pb2+-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trial was conducted to study the effects of the aromatic plant thyme, a commercial probiotic (Protexin) and avilamycin on broiler performance, blood biochemical parameters and also the antibody response to sheep red blood cells. A total of 750 broilers were assigned into five replicate groups for each of five dietary treatments, namely; control (C), 2.5 mg/kg avilamycin (AB), 0.1 g/kg commercial probiotic (P), 5 g/kg ground thyme (T1), and 7.5 g/kg ground thyme (T2). In general, body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments compared to the control birds (P>0.05). Birds fed the P supplemented treatment had the greatest serum protein levels (P<0.001) and highest albumin levels (P<0.001) when compared with control birds, while the birds fed T2 had the lowest (P<0.001). Dietary supplementation reduced (P<0.001) cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum of broilers, with the effect were more noticeable by P supplements. Moreover, blood calcium and phosphorus concentrations were higher (P<0.001) in birds fed the P-supplemented diet compared to the birds fed the control diets. This study suggests that probiotic supplementation in particular, and to an intermediate extent ground thyme supplementation in diets of broiler, resulted in chicks with favorably improved blood biochemical parameters and mineral utilization, compared to the birds fed diets supplemented with avilamycin or without any supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a novel numerical solution of nonlinear shallow water equations involving moving waterlines. A hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian mapping technique was proposed to account for two simultaneous shorelines fluctuating over dry beds. In the numerical model developed in this study, the local differential quadrature method approximated the spatial derivatives and the real-time Adams–Moulton algorithm was implemented for time-marching. It was concluded that, despite using significantly small number of grid points, the model leads to accurate results compared with an existing finite volume model which demands comparatively finer meshes. Further, highly accurate predictions of the position and velocity of the moving shorelines were obtained which is considered as the key advantage of the Lagrangian shoreline tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study was to estimate the requirement for digestible lysine for broilers from 35 to 49 days of age. Two hundred and forty chicks with a mean weight of 44±1 g were used in a completely randomized design, made up of male and female chicks and 6 digestible lysine levels. Experimental diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Fitted broken lines on different responses indicated break points at 0.93, 0.93 (for body weight), 0.98, and 0.92 for feed conversion ratio for male and female, respectively. The results showed that the digestible lysine requirement of male broilers for maximum breast yield percentage, plasma free lysine and antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus exceeded the range of lysine levels tested. Dietary lysine had a significant effect in increasing the plasma free lysine, albumin, total protein, immunoglobulin, antibody titer against sheep red blood cell, Newcastle disease virus and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. In conclusion, lysine requirements of broilers for performance were lower than breast yield percentage and immune responses. Broken-line analysis showed that the concentrations of plasma free lysine were useful physiological indicators for determining the digestible lysine requirement of male and female broilers. Our results suggest that the estimated requirements based on exponential response curves were higher than estimated requirements obtained using a broken-line model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to analyze the effects of different levels of Aloe vera gel as an alternative to antibiotic, on performance and ileum morphology in broilers. Three hundred one-day old Ross 308 male broilers were used on a completely randomized design in 5 groups with 4 replicates, each consisting of 15 broilers. The groups included the control group (basal diet) and three groups with basal diet mixed with different levels of Aloe vera gel (1.5%, 2% and 2.5%). Finally, there was a group with basal diet plus 15 ppm antibiotic virginiamycin. The results obtained regarding performance of the broilers showed that Aloe vera gel groups brought about higher body weight gain and feed intake compared to the control group; however, no significant difference was observed in feed conversion ratio between the groups treated by Aloe vera gel and the control group (P>0.05). Although the antibiotic group showed better performance and heavier dressing percentage than the Aloe vera gel and the control groups, no significant difference was seen between the group treated by 2% Aloe vera gel and the antibiotic group regarding body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage (P>0.05). Among the Aloe vera gel groups, the 2% Aloe vera gel group had the largest villus height and the greatest villus height to crypt depth ratio compared to the antibiotic group (P<0.05). In general, 2% Aloe vera gel treatment may be recommended to achieve the best performance in broilers as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixing nitrogen-stabilizing leguminous forages such as Vicia spp. with livestock feeding systems like farm-pasture or farm-animal systems is one of the best approaches to reserve seasonal feeds, to decrease the load on pasture, and to increase soil fertility. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical compositions and fresh/dry forage yield of three varieties of Vicia spp. (Vicia narbonensis, narbon vetch, accession 2561; Vicia sativa, common vetch, accession 463; Vicia dasycarpa, woolly-pod vetch, accession 2446) at full blooming stage. The plants were grown under the climatic conditions of the province of Lorestan in Western Iran and were harvested at full blooming stage. Fresh and dry forage yields, as well as protein yield, were significantly higher (P<0.05) in narbon vetch (28847, 7366 and 1400 kg per hectare, respectively) than in woolly-pod (24825, 4884 and 1050 kg per hectare, respectively) and common vetch (20727, 6061 and 564 kg per hectare, respectively). Woolly-pod vetch had the highest content of crude protein (21.5%) and ash (12.3%), while common vetch had the highest content of neutral detergent fibre (43.9%). There was no difference in degraded dry matter (DDM) between the Vicia varieties in vitro. Results showed that all the Vicia varieties provide high quality forage for livestock, and can be recommended for cultivation because of their adaptability to the particular conditions of a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]