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PubMed1983

[Effect of the content of plant crude protein in the ration on the utilization of urea by the milk cow. 1. Nitrogen digestibility and utilization of urea for bacterial protein synthesis in the rumen].

The utilisation of feed urea in the rumen was tested in 2 experiments with a total of 4 newly lactating dairy cows (13 . . . 15 and 17 . . . 19 kg resp. milk/animal and day) with rumen and duodenal re-entrant cannulae. With the energy supply remaining constant in each case, the rations in experiment A contained 8.7, 12.4 and 14.6 and those of experiment B 10.7, 13,7 and 17.1% crude plant protein in the dry matter. After the supplementation with 120 and 150 g resp. urea/animal and day there were 11.9, 15.7 and 17.8 (A) and 13.8, 16.7 and 20.2 (B) % resp. crude protein in the dry matter. The rations consisted of maize silage and a pelleted mixture of straw and concentrated feed (A) resp. maize silage, alfalfa hay and concentrated feed (B). They contained 10.3 . . . 10.6 (A) and 13.6 (B) kg dry matter with 5.6 . . . 6.0 (A) and 8.2 (B). With the increase of the crude protein level of the ration to 16.7 . . . 17.8, the absolute amount of non-NH3-N (NAN) in the duodenum increased as well. Between N-intake (g/d, x) and NAN-passage corrected by the amount of the endogenous quota (g/d, y) the relation y = 87.3 + 0.55 x (r = 0.80) could be established. NAN-passage (y) as related to N-intake decreased with the N-concentration in the dry matter of the ration (x) according to the equation y = 0.35 + 1.22x-1 (r = 0.57). 70, 62 and 61% (experiment A) and 55, 61 and 51% (experiment B) of the consumed amount of N were apparently absorbed in the intestines as NAN (without endogenous quota). The bacterial N-yield of the rumen (g, y), determined with diamino pimelic acid as microbe marker, was dependent on the consumed digestible organic matter (g, x) as follows: y = 67.3 + 0.021x (r = 0.69). There was no connection with the level of N-supply. The measuring results of the bacterial N-yield show that the utilisation rate of the urea-N decreased rapidly when there was more than 11 . . . 12% crude plant protein in the dry matter of the ration. For the tested ration type (570 . . . 600 EFUcattle/kg dry matter) the urea utilisation potential in the rumen for crude plant protein concentrations of 8.7, 10.7, 12.4, 13.4, 13.7, 14.6 and 17.1% in the dry matter was 13.0, 6.9, 4.1, 2.6, 1.3 and -9.6 g urea/kg dry matter.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

[Nutritive physiological effect of dietary fats in growing swine rations. 3. Effect of sunflower and coconut kernels on protein and fat retention, backfat fatty acid pattern and various blood parameters in piglets].

Two groups, each of 9 castrated male piglets of the German Landrace breed, body weight 13-29 kg, were fed ad libitum for a 5 week period in order to determine the influence of the fatty acid composition of the dietary fat on protein and fat retention. The concentrations of urea, insulin, glucose, free glycerol and triglycerides were also determined. That fat in ration I (derived from 27% sunflower seed) contained 50% linoleic acid while that of ration II (derived from 12,5% coconut kernels) had a maximum lauric acid content of 41,8%. The relationship between digestible crude protein and ME-content was calculated to be similar in both rations. In addition protein quality was calculated to be similar in both rations. Protein deposition was determined from both nitrogen and comparative slaughter procedures. The results can be summarized as follows: The animals fed ration I had a higher daily ME-intake and growth rate than those fed ration II, although no great difference was observed in ME required per kg body weight gain. The efficiency of protein utilization was significantly better in group I and this was associated with a lower blood urea concentration. The concentrations of insulin and glucose in the blood, measured before as well as 20, 45, 60 and 120 minutes following feeding, showed little differences between the groups. The triglyceride concentration measured before and 1 and 5 hours following feeding was significantly higher (p less than 0,01) in group II. There was no significant difference in the protein and fat content of the body as well as in the daily protein and fat deposition. The fatty acid composition of the back fat was significantly influenced by the fatty acid pattern of the dietary fat. In group I the linoleic acid content was 3,6 times higher and the lauric- and myristic acid content 11,7 times lower compared to that of group II.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

Rational-driver approximation in car-following theory.

The problem of a car following a lead car driven with constant velocity is considered. To derive the governing equations for the following car dynamics a cost functional is constructed. This functional ranks the outcomes of different driving strategies, which applies to fairly general properties of the driver behavior. Assuming rational-driver behavior, the existence of the Nash equilibrium is proved. Rational driving is defined by supposing that a driver corrects continuously the car motion to follow the optimal path minimizing the cost functional. The corresponding car-following dynamics is described quite generally by a boundary value problem based on the obtained extremal equations. Linearization of these equations around the stationary state results in a generalization of the widely used optimal velocity model. Under certain conditions (the "dense traffic" limit) the rational car dynamics comprises two stages, fast and slow. During the fast stage a driver eliminates the velocity difference between the cars, the subsequent slow stage optimizes the headway. In the dense traffic limit an effective Hamiltonian description is constructed. This allows a more detailed nonlinear analysis. Finally, the differences between rational and bounded rational driver behavior are discussed. The latter, in particular, justifies some basic assumptions used recently by the authors to construct a car-following model lying beyond the frameworks of rationality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Rational desires and the limitation of life-sustaining treatment.

It is accepted that treatment of previously competent, now incompetent patients can be limited if that is what the patient would desire, if she were now competent. Expressed past preferences or an advance directive are often taken to constitute sufficient evidence of what a patient would now desire. I distinguish between desires and rational desires. I argue that for a desire to be an expression of a person's autonomy, it must be or satisfy that person's rational desires. A person rationally desires a course of action if that person desires it while being in possession of all available relevant facts, without committing relevant error of logic, and "vividly imagining" what its consequences would be like for her. I argue that some competent, expressed desires obstruct autonomy. I show that several psychological mechanisms operate to prevent a person rationally evaluating what future life in a disabled state would be like. Rational evaluation is difficult. However, treatment limitation, if it is to respect autonomy, must be in accord with a patient's rational desires, and not merely her expressed desires. I illustrate the implications of these arguments for the use of advance directives and for the treatment of competent patients.

Advance Directive Adherence↗
PubMed1975

Methionine hydroxy analog supplementation of low protein calf rations.

Thirty-six Holstein calves were randomly assigned at 3 days of age to one of three complete calf rations: ration A, B, C containing 0, .25, or .50% methionine hydroxy analog. All three rations were isonitrogenous at 13.5% crude protein (dry basis) and were offered adlibitum until calves were 12 wk of age. Calves were fed 3.64 kg whole milk oncedaily for 4 wk. Average daily gains (kg) and dry matter intakes (kg) from 4 to 12 wk were .88, 2.49; .77, 2.50; and .56, 1.98 for calves fed A, B, and C. Weight gains differed between all rations while intake was higher for A and B than for C. Dry matter intakes (kg per kg gain) from 4 to 12 wk were 2.85, 3.32, and 3.54. Serum amino acids for five calves on each treatment were similar for A and B. Calves fed C had lower serum values for all individual essential amino acids compared to A and B and 28% lower circulating total essential amino acids. Serum cysteine increased as dietary methionine hydroxy analog increased. Anamino acid imbalance or toxicity may have been produced which severely reduced gain, intake, and serum amino acids on ration C but only reduced gain on ration B.

Alanine↗
PubMed1975

Mustard meal in dairy rations.

Consumption of 0% mustard meal and 15% soybean meal, 7.5% mustard meal and 7.5% soybean meal, or 15% mustard meal and 0% soybean meal rations did not differ in palatability studies with 10 group-fed lactating cows when the mustard meal was treated with 3% caustic soda. Order of preference was for 0, 7.5, and 15% mustard meal rations when mustard meal was untreated. Twelve lactating cows were in each of two lactation trials to compare the three rations of untreated mustard meal. Milk, milk fat, and solids-not-fat, and milk protein did not differ for either trial. Protein-bound iodine of plasma for all cows were within the normal range. Three cows were placed on each of the three rations and received a minimum of 9 kg per day for 6 mo preparturition to determine goitrogenic effects. All cows gave birth to normal, vigorous calves. Limited organoleptic evaluations of milk indicated that untreated mustard meal may impart a detrimental flavor to milk, but a taste panel could not differentiate between milk from cows on the three rations of treated mustard meal. Twenty-one male and 43 female Holstein claves received either 0, 10, or 20% mustard meal starter rations from birth to 3 mo of age. Growth, feed consumption, or plasma protein-bound iodine did not differ.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1976

Influence of type and amount of grain on digestibility of rations containing cottonseed hulls.

Twelve rations formulated from barley, corn, soy bean mill feed, or wheat and cottonseed hulls were fed to three sheep per ration to measure the influence of type and amount of grain on digestibility of the proximate constituents and cellulose. Each ration was fed at 2% body weight and with grain 20, 40, and 60% of dry matter. Net energy values for maintenance, gain, and milk production were calculated from the digestion coefficients. Dry matter digestibility for rations containing barley, corn, soybean mill feed, and wheat averaged over the three percents of grain were 63.1, 62.5, 60.0, and 61.5%, and 58.9, 61.6, and 64.0% for low, medium, and high grain. Digestibility of dry matter for soy bean-mill-feed rations was less than rations containing the other grains. Digestibility of crude fiber was lowest for wheat, followed by corn, barley, and soy bean mill feed in ascending order. Calculated net energy values usually increased lineraly with increasing grain for each type of grain with the exception of wheat. Wheat was least acceptable for ruminants.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

Effects of selenium, vitamins, and ration fiber on placental retention and performance of dairy cattle.

One hundred and twenty Holstein cows were assigned to a randomized complete block design to determine effects of selenium, vitamins, and ration fiber on incidence of placental retention and other health and reproductive problems. The selenium treatment (50 mg selenium, 680 IU vitamin E) was administered as a single injection approximately 3 to 4 wk prepartum. The vitamin treatment (3 million IU vitamin A, 450,000 IU vitamin D3, 300 IU vitamin E) consisted of two injections, one administered at 3 to 4 wk prepartum and another at 2 to 3 wk postpartum. Fiber treatments were: control, 15.7% crude fiber; beet pulp, 19.3% crude fiber; and soyhull, 19.0% crude fiber. Feeding of experimental rations was begun 1 day postpartum, and the ration effect on placental retention was examined only at subsequent parturition. The overall placental retention rate of 28% was not affected by either selenium, vitamin, or combined treatments. Ration treatments did not affect the placental retention rate of 42% at subsequent parturition. Cows receiving the soyhull ration required fewer services per conception. Incidence of foot problems tended to be higher in the cows that received the combined selenium and vitamin A, D, E treatments. Supplemental selenium, vitamins A, D, and E, and ration fiber treatments did not reduce incidence of placental retention or improve most other health and reproductive measures.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Utilization of wheat in complete rations for lactating cows.

Effects of different amounts of wheat, protected amino acids, and increased rumen escape protein in high wheat rations were evaluated in two trials with dairy cows. In trial 1, concentrate mixtures with 0, 40, or 60% hard red winter wheat were included in a complete ration with 45% sorghum silage (dry basis). Intake of DM and CP was not affected by treatment. Milk yield declined (28.8, 28.0, 27.3 kg/d) as amount of wheat in the ration increased. In a second trial, concentrate mixtures with 60% wheat were compared with a control corn-base mixture. One wheat mixture was supplemented with protected lysine and methionine and another had protected lysine and methionine plus estimated rumen escape protein equal to the control. Intake of DM and CP was not affected. Milk yield of cows fed rations containing wheat, with or without protected amino acids, was lower than that of cows fed the control ration or the wheat ration in which rumen escape protein was equal to the control (29.1 and 29.0 vs. 30.8 and 30.2 kg/d). Responses of cows fed concentrate mixtures containing wheat appeared to be related to utilization of protein.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Influence of moisture content of mixed rations on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows.

Rations with target DM proportions of 35, 45,and 65%, attained by soaking the grain mix in water for 24 h, were fed to 46 mid to late lactation, multiparturient dairy cows in two experiments (Experiment 1, 35 and 45% DM; Experiment 2, 45 and 60% DM) to examine the effect of DM percentage of the totally mixed ration on intake and production of cows. Water-soaked concentrate and alfalfa silage were mixed daily and fed ad libitum. Dry matter intake and milk yield and composition were not influenced by the moisture content of the mixed ration in either experiment. Ruminal pH, ammonia N concentration, total VFA, and molar proportions of individual VFA also were not influenced by ration DM in either experiment. Results suggest that rumen water efflux, as influenced by addition of water to the concentrate portion of the mixed ration, is not a factor limiting intake in dairy cows fed high moisture mixed rations.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Ruminally protected lysine or lysine and methionine for lactating dairy cows fed a ration designed to meet requirements for microbial and postruminal protein.

The purpose of this study was to separate the effects of ruminally protected Lys from effects of ruminally protected Met on the performance of lactating dairy cows fed a ration calculated to be first-limiting in intestinally delivered Lys and second-limiting in intestinally delivered Met. Thirty multiparous Holstein cows were examined in a 20-wk study that started on wk 5 postpartum. Rations contained timothy silage, corn silage, barley, corn, corn gluten meal, and soybean meal. Treatments were 1) no supplemental amino acids, 2) 21 g/d of intestinally available Lys, and 3) 22 g/d of intestinally available Lys and 6 g/d of intestinally available Met. Post-experimental calculations suggested that, in contrast to the objective, the unsupplemented ration was colimiting in intestinally available His (0.96 of requirement), followed by Lys (1.00), digestible ruminally undegraded protein (1.01), Ile (1.03), Arg (1.04), Val (1.10), and Met (1.14). In this context, the virtually identical performance of cows fed the unsupplemented ration and cows fed the ration supplemented with ruminally protected Lys demonstrated that dairy cows did not respond to enhanced intestinal supplies of Lys when Lys was not calculated to be the first-limiting nutrient. In contrast, for cows fed rations supplemented with both ruminally protected Lys and ruminally protected Met, the production of both milk protein (40 g/d) and fat (40 g/d) was numerically increased to an extent that was consistent with earlier reported studies, although calculations did not indicate that performance was limited by intestinal supplies of Lys or Met. This result, which may be disputed because of a lack of statistical significance, suggests that Met, apparently unlike Lys, may enhance the production of milk components beyond an enhancement expected because of its role as a limiting amino acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Relation between methionine and inorganic sulphate in broiler rations.

In two experiments with 0-5 weeks old broiler chicks in battery-cages, it was examined whether the requirements for sulphur-containing amino acids in the ration could be reduced by addition of inorganic sulphate. The basal diet was a high energy practical-type broiler ration. The mineral mix included in this diet did not contain sulphates. The basal diet contained 0.73% methionine + cystine. By addition of synthetic methionine, experimental rations with 0.78, 0.82, 0.92 and 1.02% methionine + cystine, respectively, were obtained. The addition of methionine to the basal ration effected significant effects on weight gain (maximum 6-7% at 5 weeks of age) and on feed conversion (maximum 7-8% at 5 weeks of age). The addition of 0.1% Na2 SO4 (=0.068% inorganic sulphate) to the basal and the methionine supplemented diets resulted in an overall increase in weight gain at 5 weeks of age of 0.9% and a reduction in feed conversion of 1.2%; both effects were significant (P less than .05). However, the size of this effect proved to be independent on the contents of sulphur-containing amino acids in the ration. This indicates a small deficiency of the basal ration for inorganic sulphate.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1987

Rationing expensive lifesaving medical treatments.

In the last fifteen years, medical technology has made significant and spectacular advances. Hemodialysis, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, CT scanners, and organ transplants are among the treatments now available to patients. In recent months, in fact, the media has reported the increased use of artificial hearts, heart transplants, and liver transplants. These technological advances, however, have been accompanied by troublesome legal and ethical issues. For example, someone must decide which patients will receive a medical resource when demand exceeds supply. Similarly, and more commonly, someone must decide whether the significant number of patients who cannot afford an available treatment should receive it despite the cost. In response to these troublesome issues, hospitals, doctors, and commentators have either proposed or implemented rationing systems based on criteria such as the social worth of the patient, likelihood of survival after the operation, and ability to pay. In this Article, Professor Mehlman examines the possible systems for rationing expensive lifesaving medical technologies. First, he concludes that the costs of any rationing system probably exceed its benefits. Consequently, he rejects the rationing of expensive but available lifesaving medical technologies. Second, he argues that the increased availability of the technologies and the recent expansion of patient rights to sue will result in a substantial number of judicial challenges to rationing. Finally, he suggests detailed criteria to aid the courts in deciding whether a resource has been improperly rationed.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1999

The effect on performance and biochemical parameters when soil was added to aflatoxin-contaminated poultry rations.

The effects of silty clay loam soil on the performance and biochemical parameters of chicks were investigated when the soil was added to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diets. One hundred 14-d-old White Leghorn chicks were fed a control ration (clean corn), a low aflatoxin-contaminated ration (120 ng AFB1/g), a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB1/g), or high aflatoxin-contaminated rations (700 ng AFB1/g) +10% or 25% soil. Body weight, feed consumption and blood samples were monitored weekly. Decreased feed consumption, body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization, increased SGOT and LDH activities, and cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and decreased uric acid concentrations and ALP activity were observed in the chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Hepatomegaly was prominent in chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil, and some livers had extensive hepatocyte vacuolation, hepatocellular swelling, fatty change and hydropic degeneration, and stained positive for fat accumulation. Addition of soil reduced the detrimental effects of AFB1 for some parameters, although the reduction was less when 10% soil was fed compared with the 25% soil feeding.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed1975

Effects of different concentrations of corn oil, magnesium sulfate, and oat hulls in a porcine ulcerogenic ration.

Two experiments involving 32 growing pigs were conducted to evaluate various concentrations of corn oil, magnesium sulfate, and oat hulls as ameliorants in a high cornstarch-low protein ulcerogenic ration. The pig were slaughtered at the end of the respective feeding periods, and stomachs were evaluated for issue lesions. During a 40-day feeding period, additions of corn oil and of MgSO4 in the rations did not seem to affect development of gastric lesions materially. After a 42-day feeding period, neither 5.0% nor 10.0% concentration of oat hulls in the ration prevented formation of ulcers. Total stomach contents, free gastric HCI, and pH of stomach contents were measured in pigs slaughtered after 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours of fasting. Gastric HCI (mEq/L) differed significantly among pigs fed various rations and increased significantly with length of fasting. The pH of stomach contents did not differ among pigs given various rations, but decreased with length of fasting. Thus, corn oil, MgSO4, or oat hulls did not seem to significantly alter the ulcerogenic character of the high cornstarch-low protein ration.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2003

[Influences of ration level and initial body weight on growth and size hierarchy of hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus x O. niloticus].

72 hybrid tilapia were distributed into twelve tanks, each stocked in six fish (A, B, C, D, E, F) with different body size. The initial body weight was 62.69 +/- 1.46 g for fish A, 56.48 +/- 1.30 g for B, 50.75 +/- 1.19 g for C, 35.56 +/- 1.18 g for D, 31.05 +/- 0.88 g for E, and 27.35 +/- 0.95 g for F (mean +/- SE). The fish were reared under four ration levels (deprived of feed, fed at 1.5% body weight per day (BW.d-1), fed at 3.0% BW.d-1, or fed excess) throughout four weeks, respectively. The specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) of the fish increased with increasing ration level up to 3.0% BW.d-1, and then, SGR maintained at a constant level while FE dropped with continuing increase of ration. The variance coefficient of SGR and final body weight was relatively high in the fish that fed at 1.5% BW.d-1. For fish A, SGR was not significantly different, between 1.5% BW.d-1, 3.0% BW.d-1 and fed excess, while in fish F, relatively high variations were found among different ration treatments. This experiment revealed that the growth and size hierarchy of hybrid tilapia were related to their ration level and initial body size. Under ration levels more than 3.0% BW.d-1, SGR was usually high, and size hierarchy was relatively weak.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of rational prescribing practices of doctors and medical students at the Igbo-Ora Comprehensive Hospital, Nigeria.

This study was done to determine the level of rational drug prescribing practices by doctors and medical students as well as to assess the impact of the teaching of rational drug use on the prescribing skills of students. A checklist, developed according to the key indices of a rational prescription, was used to rate prescriptions obtained from randomly selected case notes in the period 1975, 1985 and 1995 by means of a scoring system. Mean score of students increased from 5.5(out of 10) in 1975 to 7.7 in 1985(p < 0.001) but showed a significant decline to 6.8 in the period 1995(p = 0.117). Mean score of doctors was 7.1 in 1975, 6.8 in 1985(p = 0.616) and 6.8 in 1995(p = 0.910). Comparison of mean scores of doctors and students for each period revealed a significant difference only in 1975(p = 0.012) The teaching of rational drug use had improved the rational prescribing practices of medical students. There is need for a sustained effort to maintain rational drug prescribing by students and doctors in Igbo-ora hospital. Similar efforts should be made in other places in the country.

Drug Utilization↗
PubMed1992

[Estimation of table salt content in daily food rations of children, youth and elderly people].

In order to estimate table salt intake in selected population groups, sodium chloride as well as sodium, potassium were determined in daily food rations. Sodium chloride was determined by Mohr's method, while sodium and potassium by flame photometry. Parallel samples of soups, bread and carbohydrates in the second courses were analysed in the same way. Samples for analysis were collected during a period of 10 days in a State Children's Home (SCH) and in Home for the Aged (HA). The table salt content in food rations from the HA was found between 14.7-24.7 g and in rations from the SCH between 7.9-19.6. In both cases the values were significantly higher than those recommended. The average table salt content in soup from the HA was 1.24 g/100 g and that from the SCH -1.65 g/100 g. A high level of salt was observed also in potatoes, groats and macaroni, the average value being 1.5 g/100g. As regards the size of the portions given, it was found, that soups as well as bread supplied 34% of the total salt content in the food rations, and the carbohydrates in the second courses brought about 14%. It was found, that about 96% of the total salt quantity in the investigated rations was derived from addition of salt during food preparation and from the processed products. The studied food rations contained relatively high quantities of potassium, that completely satisfied the demand for this element of the investigated population groups. The Na:K weight ratio was abnormal, as the results of too high sodium content.

Adult↗