Studies of water and electrolyte movement from oral rehydration solutions (rice- and glucose-based) across a normal and secreting gut using a dual isotope tracer technique in a rat perfusion model

Aims: To establish a model to measure bidirectional flow of water from a glucose oral rehydration solution (G-ORS) and a newly developed rice-based oral rehydration solution (R-ORS) using a dual isotope tracer technique in a rat perfusion model. To measure net water, sodium and potassium absorption from the ORS. Methods: In viva steady-state perfusion studies were carried out in normal and secreting (induced by cholera toxin) rat small intestine (n = 11 in each group). To determine bidirectional flow of water from the ORS the animals were initially labelled with tritium, and deuterium was added to the perfusion solution. Sequential perfusate and blood samples were collected after attainment of steady-state conditions and analysed for water and electrolyte content. Results: There was a significant increase in net water absorption from the R-ORS compared to the G-ORS in both the normal (P < 0.02) and secreting intestine (P < 0.05). Water efflux was significantly reduced in the R-ORS group compared to the G-ORS group in both the normal (P < 0.01) and the secreting intestine (P < 0.01). There was an increase in sodium absorption in the R-ORS group compared to the G-ORS. The G-ORS produced a significantly greater blood glucose level at 75 min compared to the R-ORS (P < 0.03) in the secreting intestine. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the improved water absorption from a rice-based ORS in both the normal and secreting intestine. Evidence that the absorption of water may be influenced by the osmolality of the ORS was also demonstrated.

Using a non-invasive stable isotope tracer to measure the absorption of water in humans

The development of solutions that prevent dehydration or promote adequate re-hydration play a vital role in preventing fatigue during exercise, however, the methods commonly used to assess the hydration ability of such solutions are invasive and often assess the components of absorption separately. This paper describes using a non-invasive deuterium tracer technique that assesses gastric emptying and intestinal absorption simultaneously to evaluate the uptake of water during rest and exercise. The kinetics of absorption are further examined by mathematical modelling of the data generated. For the rest group, 0.05 g/kg of body weight of deuterium, contained in gelatine capsules, was ingested with ordinary tap water and saliva samples were collected every 5 min for one hour while the subject remained seated. The deuterium was administered as above for the exercise group but sample collection was during one hour of exercise on a treadmill at 55% of the subject's maximum heart rate. The enrichment data for each subject were mathematically modelled and the parameters obtained were compared across groups using an independent samples t-test. Compared with the rest condition, the exercise group showed delayed absorption of water as indicated by significant differences for the modelling parameters t(2), t(1/2), maximum absorption rate and solution absorption amount at t(1). Labelling with a deuterium tracer is a good measure of the relative rate ingested fluids are absorbed by the body. Mathematical modelling of the data generates rates of maximum absorption and allows calculation of the percentage of the solution that is absorbed at any given time during the testing period. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Silicide formation and the interaction of metals with polycrystalline Si

The main factors affecting solid-phase Si-metal interactions are reported in this work. The influence of the orientation of the Si substrates and the presence of impurities in metal films and at the Si-metal interface on the formation of nickel and chromium silicides have been demonstrated. We have observed that the formation and kinetic rate of growth of nickel silicides is strongly dependent on the orientation and crystallinity of the Si substrates; a fact which, up to date, has never been seriously investigated in silicide formation. Impurity contaminations in the Cr film and at the Si-Cr interface are the most dominant influencing factors in the formation and kinetic rate of growth of CrSi₂. The potentiality and use of silicides as a diffusion barrier in metallization on silicon devices were also investigated.

Two phases, Ni₂Si and NiSi, form simultaneously in two distinct sublayers in the reaction of Ni with amorphous Si, while only the former phase was observed on other substrates. On (111) oriented Si substrates the growth rate is about 2 to 3 times less than that on <100> or polycrystalline Si. Transmission electron micrographs establish-·that silicide layers grown on different substrates have different microcrystalline structures. The concept of grain-boundary diffusion is speculated to be an important factor in silicide formation.

The composition and kinetic rate of CrSi₂ formation are not influenced by the underlying Si substrate. While the orientation of the Si substrate does not affect the formation of CrSi₂ , the purity of the Cr film and the state of Si-Cr interface become the predominant factors in the reaction process. With an interposed layer of Pd₂Si between the Cr film and the Si substrate, CrSi₂ starts to form at a much lower temperature (400°C) relative to the Si-Cr system. However, the growth rate of CrSi₂ is observed to be independent of the thickness of the Pd2Si layer. For both Si-Cr and Si-Pd₂Si-Cr samples, the growth rate is linear with time with an activation energy of 1.7 ± 0.1 ev.

A tracer technique using radioactive ³¹Si (T_1/2 = 2.26 h) was used to study the formation of CrSi₂ on Pd₂Si. It is established from this experiment that the growth of CrSi₂ takes place partly by transport of Si directly from the Si substrate and partly by breaking Pd₂Si bonds, making free Si atoms available for the growth process.

The role of CrSi₂ in Pd-Al metallization on Si was studied. It is established that a thin CrSi₂ layer can be used as a diffusion barrier to prevent Al from interacting with Pd₂Si in the Pd-Al metallization on Si.

As a generalization of what has been observed for polycrystalline-Si-Al interaction, the reactions between polycrystalline Si (poly Si) and other metals were studied. The metals investigated include Ni, Cr, Pd, Ag and Au. For Ni, Cr and Pd, annealing results in silicide formation, at temperatures similar to those observed on single crystal Si substrates. For Al, Ag and Au, which form simple eutectics with Si annealing results in erosion of the poly Si layer and growth of Si crystallites in the metal films.

Backscattering spectrometry with 2.0 and 2.3 MeV ⁴He ions was the main analytical tool used in all our investigations. Other experimental techniques include the Read camera glancing angle x-ray diffraction, scanning electron, optical and transmission electron microscopy. Details of these analytical techniques are given in Chapter II.

Growth rates of bacteria in rivers

Three different methods for determining bacterial growth rate in rivers are described. Two of the methods are for bacteria in suspension: a recirculating experimental channel method and a radioactive tracer technique using super(35)SO sub(4). The third method is for bacteria attached to surfaces and specifically considers the surface of the common duckweed Lemna minor).

~(137)Cs示踪技术背景值研究进展与建议

利用环境核素137Cs示踪技术研究土壤侵蚀被越来越多的科研人员所采用,而背景值的确定是利用该技术研究土壤侵蚀的前提和根本,直接关系到侵蚀速率计算的准确与否。本文从137Cs背景值采样点的选取方式,137Cs全球空间分布预报模型以及影响137Cs沉降因素等方面进行了总结性综述,对137Cs背景值研究应注意的问题和今后研究重点提出了建议。

Liquid-liquid extraction of Pa-233(V) with Aliquat 336

The extraction of protactinium with Aliquat 336 (methyl-tri-caprylyl ammonium chloride) in toluene, cyclohexane and chloroform from HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4, HF and mixed HCl-HF media was investigated by radioactive tracer technique. Distribution ratios of protactinium between the aqueous solution and the organic phase were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of acid in aqueous solution phase, extractant concentration and type of diluents in the organic phase. Aliquat 336 can almost quantitatively extract protactinium from strong HCl solution. At the same time, small amounts of HF in HCl solutions have a strong effect on Pa distribution.

Solvent extraction of americium and europium ions by amide-derivatized polyethers from picric acid aqueous solution

The extraction of Am3+ and Eu3+ from picric acid aqueous solution by N,N-1,2-ethanediyl-bis[2-(N,N-diphenyl-carbamoyl-methoxy)-benzamide] was investigated by a radioactive tracer technique. The composition of the extracted species has been determined as ML(Pic)(3) (M = Eu, Am). The effect of various parameters such as pH, organic diluents, different extractants, picric acid concentration and extractants concentration on the extraction of Am3+ and Eu3+ has been studied. The extraction equilibrium mechanism has been also evaluated and discussed.

The inclusion of forage mixtures in the diet of growing dairy heifers: impacts on digestion, energy utilisation, and methane emissions

Intensive farming focusing on monoculture grass species to maximise forage production has led to a reduction in the extent and diversity of species-rich grasslands. However, plant communities with higher species number (richness) are a potential strategy for more sustainable production and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Research has indicated the need to understand opportunities that forage mixtures can offer sustainable ruminant production systems. The objective of the two experiments reported here were to evaluate multiple species forage mixtures in comparison to ryegrass-dominant pasture, when conserved or grazed, on digestion, energy utilisation, N excretion, and methane emissions by growing 10–15 month old heifers. Experiment 1 was a 4 × 4 Latin square design with five week periods. Four forage treatments of: (1) ryegrass (control); permanent pasture with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne); (2) clover; a ryegrass:red clover (Trifolium pratense) mixture; (3) trefoil; a ryegrass:birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) mixture; and (4) flowers; a ryegrass:wild flower mixture of predominately sorrel (Rumex acetosa), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), were fed as haylages to four dairy heifers. Measurements included digestibility, N excretion, and energy utilisation (including methane emissions measured in respiration chambers). Experiment 2 used 12 different dairy heifers grazing three of the same forage treatments used to make haylage in experiment 1 (ryegrass, clover and flowers) and methane emissions were estimated using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique. Distribution of ryegrass to other species (dry matter (DM) basis) was approximately 70:30 (clover), 80:20 (trefoil), and 40:60 (flowers) for experiment 1. During the first and second grazing rotations (respectively) in experiment 2, perennial ryegrass accounted for 95 and 98% of DM in ryegrass, and 84 and 52% of DM in clover, with red clover accounting for almost all of the remainder. In the flowers mixture, perennial ryegrass was 52% of the DM in the first grazing rotation and only 30% in the second, with a variety of other flower species occupying the remainder. Across both experiments, compared to the forage mixtures (clover, trefoil and flowers), ryegrass had a higher crude protein (CP) content (P < 0.001, 187 vs. 115 g kg −1 DM) and DM intake (P < 0.05, 9.0 vs. 8.1 kg day −1). Heifers in experiment 1 fed ryegrass, compared to the forage mixtures, had greater total tract digestibility (g kg −1) of DM (DMD; P < 0.008, 713 vs. 641) and CP (CPD, P < 0.001, 699 vs. 475), and used more intake energy (%) for body tissue deposition (P < 0.05, 2.6 vs. −4.9). For both experiments, heifers fed flowers differed the most compared to the ryegrass control for a number of measurements. Compared to ryegrass, flowers had 40% lower CP content (P < 0.001, 113 vs. 187 g kg −1), 18% lower DMD (P < 0.01, 585 vs. 713 g kg −1), 42% lower CPD (P < 0.001, 407 vs. 699 g kg −1), and 10% lower methane yield (P < 0.05, 22.6 vs. 25.1 g kg −1 DM intake). This study has shown inclusion of flowers in forage mixtures resulted in a lower CP concentration, digestibility and intake. These differences were due in part to sward management and maturity at harvest. Further research is needed to determine how best to exploit the potential environmental benefits of forage mixtures in sustainable ruminant production systems.

The non-conservation of potential vorticity by a dynamical core compared with the effects of parametrized physical processes

Numerical models of the atmosphere combine a dynamical core, which approximates solutions to the adiabatic, frictionless governing equations for fluid dynamics, with tendencies arising from the parametrization of other physical processes. Since potential vorticity (PV) is conserved following fluid flow in adiabatic, frictionless circumstances, it is possible to isolate the effects of non-conservative processes by accumulating PV changes in an air-mass relative framework. This “PV tracer technique” is used to accumulate separately the effects on PV of each of the different non-conservative processes represented in a numerical model of the atmosphere. Dynamical cores are not exactly conservative because they introduce, explicitly or implicitly, some level of dissipation and adjustment of prognostic model variables which acts to modify PV. Here, the PV tracers technique is extended to diagnose the cumulative effect of the non-conservation of PV by a dynamical core and its characteristics relative to the PV modification by parametrized physical processes. Quantification using the Met Office Unified Model reveals that the magnitude of the non-conservation of PV by the dynamical core is comparable to those from physical processes. Moreover, the residual of the PV budget, when tracing the effects of the dynamical core and physical processes, is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the PV tracers associated with the most active physical processes. The implication of this work is that the non-conservation of PV by a dynamical core can be assessed in case studies with a full suite of physics parametrizations and directly compared with the PV modification by parametrized physical processes. The nonconservation of PV by the dynamical core is shown to move the position of the extratropical tropopause while the parametrized physical processes have a lesser effect at the tropopause level.

Mixing and motion of rice particles in a rotating drum

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Metano entérico de bovinos leiteiros em condições tropicais brasileiras

The objective of this work was to quantify methane (CH4) emission using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique, by dairy cattle on pasture in Brazilian tropical field conditions. Measurements were performed in the rainy season, with Holstein and Holstein x Zebu crossbred, from lactating and dry cows and heifers grazing fertilized Tobiatã grass, and heifers grazing unfertilized Brachiaria grass. Methane and SF6 concentrations were determined by gas chromatograph. Methane emissions by lactating cows varied from 13.8 to 16.8 g/hour, by dry cows from 11.6 to 12.3 g/hour, by heifers grazing fertilized grass was 9.5 g/hour and by heifers grazing unfertilized grass varied from 7.6 to 8.3 g/hour or 66 to 72 kg/head/year. Methane emission per digestive dry matter intake (DMDI) varied from 42 to 69 g/kg DMDI for lactating cows, 46 to 56 g/kg for dry cows, 45 to 58 g/kg for heifers grazing fertilized grass and 58 to 62 g/kg for heifers in unfertilized grass pasture. The CH4 emission measured on dairy cattle feeding tropical grasses was higher than that observed for temperate climate conditions.

Produção de metano em caprinos sob pastejo

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Tropical tanniniferous legumes used as an option to mitigate sheep enteric methane emission

This study presents the first results from Brazil using SF6 tracer technique adapted from cattle to evaluate the capability of condensed tannin (CT) present in three tropical legume forages, Leucaena leucocephala (LEU), Styzolobium aterrimum (STA), and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth (MIM) to reduce enteric CH4 production in Santa Ins sheep. Twelve male lambs [27.88 +/- 2.85 kg body weight (BW)] were allocated in individual metabolic cages for 20-day adaptation followed by 6 days for measuring dry matter intake (DMI) and CH4 emission. All lambs received water, mineral supplement, and Cynodon dactylon v. coast-cross hay ad libitum. The treatments consisted of soybean meal (710 g/kg) and ground corn (290 g/kg) [control (CON)]; soybean meal (150 g/kg), ground corn (30 g/kg), and Leucaena hay (820 g/kg) (LEU); soybean meal (160 g/kg), ground corn (150 g/kg), and Mucuna hay (690 g/kg) (STA); and soybean meal (280 g/kg), ground corn (190 g/kg), and Mimosa hay (530 g/kg) (MIM); all calculated to provide 40 g/kg CT (except for CON). DMI (in grams of DMI per kilogram BW per day) was lower for LEU (22.0) than CON (29.3), STA (31.2), and MIM (31.6). The LEU group showed emission of 7.8 g CH4/day, significantly lower than CON (10.5 g CH4/day), STA (10.4 g CH4/day), and MIM (11.3 g CH4/day). However, when the CH4 emission per DMI was considered, there were no significant differences among treatments (0.37, 0.36, 0.33, and 0.35 g CH4/g DMI/kg BW/day, respectively, for CON, LEU, STA, and MIM). The sheep receiving STA had shown a tendency (p = 0.15) to reduce methane emission when compared to the CON group. Therefore, it is suggested that tropical tanniniferous legumes may have potential to reduce CH4 emission in sheep, but more research is warranted to confirm these results.

Caratterizzazione morfologica e neurochimica dei neuroni sensitivi e motori del trigono vescicale e del muscolo uretrale di maiale

Il trigono della vescica urinaria (UBT) è un'area limitata attraverso la quale penetrano nella vescica la maggior parte dei vasi e fibre e in cui le fibre nervose e neuroni intramurali sono più concentrati. Mediante l’utilizzo combinato di un tracciante retrogrado(FB) e dell’immunoistochimica sono stati valutati il fenotipo e l’area del soma dei neuroni dei gangli spinali (DRG), dei neuroni post-gangliari, il fenotipo dei gangli della catena simpatica (STG) e i gangli mesenterici caudali (CMG) innervanti l’UBT. - Caratterizzazione dei neuroni dei DRG con: peptide correlato al gene della calcitonina (CGRP)(30±3%, 29±3%, rispettivamente), sostanza P(SP)(26±8%, 27±12%), ossido nitrico sintasi neuronale (nNOS)(21±4%; 26±7%), neurofilamento 200kDa (NF200)(75±14%, 81±7% ) , transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1)(48±13%, 43±6%) e isolectina-B4-positivi (IB4) (56±6%;43±10%). I neuroni sensoriali, distribuiti da L2 a Ca1 (DRG), hanno presentato una localizzazione segmentale, mostrando maggior densità nei DRG L4-L5 e S2-S4. I neuroni sensoriali lombari sono risultati significativamente più grandi di quelle sacrali (1.112±624μm2 vs716±421μm2). Complessivamente, questi dati indicano che le vie lombari e sacrali probabilmente svolgono ruoli diversi nella trasmissione sensitiva del trigono della vescica urinaria. -I neuroni FB+ della STG e dei CMG sono risultati immunoreattivi per la tirosina idrossilasi (TH)(66±10,1%, 53±8,2%, rispettivamente), la dopamina beta-idrossilasi (DβH)(62±6,2%, 52±6,2%), neuropeptideY (NPY)(59±8%; 66±7%), CGRP(24±3%, 22±3%), SP(22±2%; 38±8%), polipeptide intestinale vasoattivo (VIP)(19±2%; 35±4%), nNOS(15±2%; 33±8%), trasportatore vescicolare dell'acetilcolina (VAChT)(15±2%; 35±5%), leu-encefalina (LENK)(14±7%; 26±9%), e somatostatina (SOM)(12±3%;32±7%).Il numero medio di neuroni FB+ (1845,1±259,3) era nella STG in L1-S3, con i pirenofori più piccoli (465,6±82.7μm2). Un gran numero (4287,5±1450,6) di neuroni FB+ di piccole dimensioni (476,1±103,9μm2) sono stati localizzati lungo il margine dei CMG. Il maggior numero (4793,3±1990,8) di neuroni FB + è stato osservato nel plesso pelvico, dove i neuroni marcati erano raggruppati in micro-gangli e con pirenoforo ancora più piccolo (374,9±85,4 μm2).