Basal diet composition contributes to differential performance, intestinal health, and immunological responses to a microalgae-based feed ingredient in broiler chickens.

Novel feed ingredients may improve poultry health, but functionality of these ingredients may vary across basal diet formulations. This study evaluated a proprietary algae ingredient's effects on broiler performance, intestinal health, systemic immunity, and metabolic/immune kinotypes between corn- or wheat-based diets. Ross 308 broilers were housed in 80 floor pens (14 birds/pen) and assigned to 1 of 4 corn or wheat-based diets ± 0.175% algae ingredient for 42 d. At the end of each 14 d starter, grower, and finisher period, 10 birds/treatment were euthanized for tissue collection to assess intestinal histomorphology, systemic immune cell populations by flow cytometry and kinotypes by peptide arrays. On d 28 and 29, forty-three birds/treatment underwent a 12 h feed restriction challenge followed by a fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran intestinal permeability assay. For the entire 42 d study, wheat-based diets improved feed conversion rate (FCR) by 5 points compared to corn-based diets (P < 0.0001). Performance benefits related to algae inclusion were diet dependent, with algae inclusion improving 42 d FCR by 6 points only in corn-based diets (P = 0.006). Birds fed wheat-based diets had reduced splenic monocyte/macrophage, CD1.1+, and T cell populations in the first 14 d (P < 0.0001) and reduced serum fluorescence on d 28/29 (P = 0.0002). Algae inclusion in the corn-based diet increased villus height in the duodenum on d 28 and jejunum on d 42, while reducing splenic CD3+CD8α+ cytotoxic T cells 13.4 to 27.5% compared to the corn-based control at the same timepoints (P < 0.0001). Kinome results showed a significant innate immune toll-like receptor (TLR) response via MyD88 at d 14 in the small intestine of birds fed corn-based diets with algae that shifted to a more growth factor and adaptive immune-oriented response by d 42. Concurrent with immune changes, signaling changes indicative of lipid metabolism in the small intestine, ceca, and liver were seen in birds fed the corn-based diet with algae. The observed differential responses to basal diet composition and algae inclusion emphasize the need to comparatively evaluate feed ingredients in various diet formulations.

Protected biofactors and antioxidants reduce the negative consequences of virus and cold challenge while enhancing performance by modulating immunometabolism through cytoskeletal and immune signaling in the jejunum.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanism of action of 2 feed additives in reducing the impacts of virus and temperature stressors. We determined the effects of protected biofactors and antioxidants (P(BF+AOx)), and protected biofactors and antioxidants with protected organic acids and essential oils (P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO)) on the immune and metabolic health of Ross 308 broiler chickens. These biofactors and antioxidants were derived from vitamins, and Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis fermentation extracts. All Ross 308 chickens were exposed to a double-dose of live bronchitis vaccine at d 0 and environmentally challenged by reducing the temperature from 32°C to 20°C at d 3 for 48 h. Control birds were fed without feed additives in the diet. Performance data and jejunum samples were collected to evaluate the effects of these treatments on growth, cytokine expression, and protein phosphorylation via kinome peptide array. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of the performance and gene expression data (p-value of 0.05), and PIIKA2 was used for statistical evaluation and comparison of the kinome peptide array data. The P(BF plus;AOx) and P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treatments significantly increased bird weight gain and decreased feed conversion. The kinome peptide array data analysis showed increased activity of cytoskeletal, cell growth and proliferation proteins, and metabolic signaling in the jejunum of P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treated chickens. There was a significant decrease in IL-6 gene expression in the jejunum of P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) samples compared to control at d 15. P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treatments in the jejunum showed strong immunomodulatory effects, perhaps to control inflammation. P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) improves gut health via growth and metabolic signaling in the jejunum while inducing stronger immunomodulation.

A protected complex of biofactors and antioxidants improved growth performance and modulated the immunometabolic phenotype of broiler chickens undergoing early life stress.

We evaluated the supplementation of a protected complex of biofactors and antioxidants [P(BF+AOx)] on growth performance, antioxidant activity, expression of immune-related genes, and immunometabolic phenotype of broilers submitted to early life stressors. The treatments were a nutritionally complete basal diet supplemented or not with P(BF+AOx) (Jefo Nutrition Inc., Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada) from 1 to 14 d of age. 720 one-day old male Ross 308 chickens were placed into pens of 30 birds (12 replicates/treatment). Birds were double-vaccinated against infectious bronchitis (IB; MILDVAC-Ma5T) at the hatchery and submitted, on d 3, to an acute reduction on environmental temperature (from 32° C to 20°C) for 48 h. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated weekly. On d 7 and 15, samples were collected for expression of immune-related genes and kinome array analysis, and serum to evaluate the antioxidant status. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using SAS (SAS 9.4). From d 1 to 21 and d 1 to 28, the dietary supplementation of P(BF+AOx) significantly increased BWG (P < 0.05) by 3.6 and 3.8%, respectively, and improved FCR (P < 0.05) by 1.2 and 1.8%, respectively. From d 1 to 35, dietary supplementation enhanced BWG (P = 0.03) by 4%. Serum glutathione reductase activity on d 15 was higher in birds fed diets supplemented with P(BF+AOx) compared to the control diet-fed birds (P = 0.04). Dietary supplementation reduced the expression of IL-1ß (P = 0.03) in the lungs on d 7. On d 15, dietary supplementation increased the expression of IL-6 (P = 0.02) and IL-10 (P = 0.03) in the liver. It was observed that, via decreased phosphorylation, catalase was activated in the jejunum and liver, and the phosphorylation of immunoregulatory or proinflammatory proteins was decreased. Other important cellular signaling pathways were also changed in the liver and jejunum due to the supplementation. The supplementation of P(BF+AOx) improves growth performance by promoting a general anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response in chickens undergoing early life stress.

Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α Centauri.

Giant exoplanets on wide orbits have been directly imaged around young stars. If the thermal background in the mid-infrared can be mitigated, then exoplanets with lower masses can also be imaged. Here we present a ground-based mid-infrared observing approach that enables imaging low-mass temperate exoplanets around nearby stars, and in particular within the closest stellar system, α Centauri. Based on 75-80% of the best quality images from 100 h of cumulative observations, we demonstrate sensitivity to warm sub-Neptune-sized planets throughout much of the habitable zone of α Centauri A. This is an order of magnitude more sensitive than state-of-the-art exoplanet imaging mass detection limits. We also discuss a possible exoplanet or exozodiacal disk detection around α Centauri A. However, an instrumental artifact of unknown origin cannot be ruled out. These results demonstrate the feasibility of imaging rocky habitable-zone exoplanets with current and upcoming telescopes.

Changes in immune and metabolic gut response in broilers fed ß-mannanase in ß-mannan-containing diets.

ß-galactomannans found in soy-based broiler feed are known to cause physiological effects that are hypothesized to be related to gut inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the incorporation of ß-mannanase in the diet or as a supplement results in improvements to certain performance parameters related to gut health and feed conversion. Using kinome analysis, we characterized the mechanism of ß-galactomannan activity and supplementation with ß-mannanase on the gut of commercial broilers to understand the mode of action. Two doses of ß-mannanase (200 and 400 g/ton of feed) with and without inclusion of additional ß-galactomannan (3,000 ppm) were tested at 3 time points (d 14, d 28, and d 42 post hatch). Broilers were fed starter (d 0 to 14), grower (d 15 to 28), and finisher diets (d 29 to 42). Jejuna were collected from birds from each treatment condition and time point. Cluster analysis of the kinome data showed that birds clustered first by age, then predominantly by whether ß-mannanase had been included in the diet. Biological pathway analysis showed that the inclusion of additional ß-galactomannan into the diet resulted in increased signaling related to immune response, relative to our normal control diet (with reduced soybean meal). The addition of ß-mannanase to the enhanced ß-galactomannan diet eliminated the majority of this immune-related signaling, indicating that the feed-induced immune response within the jejuna had been eliminated by the addition of ß-mannanase. We also saw changes in specific metabolic and gut function pathways in birds fed ß-mannanase. These observed changes in ß-mannanase-fed birds are likely the mechanism for the enhanced performance and feed conversion observed in birds given ß-mannanase in their diets.

Investigation of the physiological, behavioral, and biochemical responses of cattle to restraint stress.

Stresses imposed on livestock have significant impact on their health and productivity as well as public perceptions of animal welfare. Understanding stress responses in livestock may help refine management procedures and facilitate selection of stress-tolerant animals. In this study, behavioral (chute entry order, chute behavior, and exit velocity), physiological (serum cortisol), and biochemical (kinome) responses were evaluated in cattle ( = 20) subjected to three 5-min restraint periods with weekly intervals. Correlations among stress responses were assessed across all animals as well as for subgroups ( = 4) representing animals consistently displaying a high and low extreme of serum cortisol responses. Across all animals, entry order ( = 0.006) and exit velocity ( = 0.023) were positively correlated with serum cortisol; however, these correlations were not consistently reproducible for the high and low serum cortisol responders. Kinome profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed distinct signaling events between the high and low cortisol responders. In particular, kinome profiling revealed significant differences in carbohydrate metabolism and apoptosis that were independently validated. Furthermore, changes in serum glucose levels provided a reliable, inexpensive indicator of serum cortisol levels and often had greater predictive value than cortisol for stress-related behavioral responses. Serum cortisol levels displayed a pattern consistent with sensitization, whereas no habituation or sensitization was observed for serum glucose levels or behavioral responses. Collectively, this investigation provides insight into correlations among physiological, behavioral, and biochemical responses of cattle subjected to a brief restraint that may provide biomarkers for selection of stress-tolerant animals.

[Characteristics of the populations at the Robert Giffard Psychiatric Hospital Center: people with intellectual deficiencies and people with mental disorders]. / Caractéristiques des populations au centre hospitalier psychiatrique Robert-Giffard: personnes ayant des incapacités intellectuelles et personnes atteintes de maladie mentale.

Within the context of the general reorganization of health care and social services in Québec, the present study aims at describing physical and mental characteristics of persons with mental health problems and who are mentally retarded still hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. In the first study, 146 mentally retarded persons of which 74 formed the community group and 72 the institutionalized group. The results indicate that 84% of the mentally retarded persons still hospitalized manifested sufficiently important needs on the three measured variables (health, deficits and behaviors) to justify intensive care in a structured environment. The Behavior variable is more important in deciding the integration of these people in the community. As most of these persons have a higher level of disabilities and more behavior manifestations, the support required for these people in the community and persons delivering services will have to be more structured and intensive in nature. In the second study, 928 psychiatric patients still hospitalized were studied on the variables, age, sex, diagnostics and the global scores (physical and mental) of the level of care survey and functional autonomy. The results show that the proportion of women in the age group 35 and older were progressively increasing in relation to the men. The primary diagnostic reported more frequently was schizophrenia in 70% of cases. In the evaluation of physical care of the people still hospitalized, age becomes an important factor. Generally speaking, the population within the institution is aging and women are progressively growing in number. As these people expressed more physical ailments and a decline in basic autonomy, more structured and specialized care and support will be required to respond to their needs.

Waveguide propagation-loss measurement technique.

A novel nondestructive propagation-loss measurement technique for single-mode waveguides is demonstrated. The method calculates the total propagation-loss coefficient from the measured ratio of the retroreflected and transmitted light from the waveguide and is independent of the coupling efficiency of the input light. A surface-wave transducer is utilized as an acousto-optic modulator in a lock-in scheme to enhance the measurement ease and precision.

Metal-dielectric photosystems.

Thin film photosystems based on copper doped lead iodide are presented. A photodecomposable Fabry-Perot type interference filter is described and also a cerment system in which copper and lead iodide are evaporated simultaneously. These systems do not require any development, and additional information can be added subsequent to the first exposure. The proposed systems are generalizable to several metals and dielectrics.

Fabrication of metal-dielectric interference filters: a simple method.

A simple and direct method for the fabrication of metal-dielectric Fabry-Perot interference filters is proposed. This phase-correction method does not require any complex calculations, and the monitoring is done directly on the system in formation. Experimental filters have been realized and are compared with the theory.