Immunoprophylactic effect of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (Ig Y) against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in piglets

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the causative agent of neonatal diarrhea in piglets, which causes high mortality rates. In this study, the immunoprophylactic effects of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (Ig Y) against PEDV were investigated in neonatal pigs. Ig Y was found to reduce the mortality in piglets after challenge exposures. The field application of Ig Y also revealed significant differences in survival rates of piglets given Ig Y, as compared with placebo or control. The results in this study indicated that Ig Y against PEDV could be an alternative way of supplementing prophylactic measures like colostral antibodies from sows.     

Effects of chilled drinking water on the performance of lactating sows and their litters during high ambient temperatures under farm conditions

Heat stress has detrimental effects on lactating sows and their litters, including decreased feed intake and milk production in sows and decreased weight gain in their offspring. It also increases respiration rate, rectal temperature, and weaning to estrus interval in sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chilled water (CW) on the performance of lactating sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures for 21 days. Ninety multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; parity range: 2 to 5) and their litters (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) were divided into 3 blocks (30 each). Sows and their litters within each block were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (n = 10 each). Each group was provided with drinking water at 10, 15, or 22 °C (control) under farm conditions where ambient temperature above 25 °C was consistent during the experimental period. Sows on CW (both 10 and 15 °C) consumed more feed and water than did control (P < 0.01) and higher estimated milk production compared with control (P < 0.01), but had lower rectal temperature and respiration rate compared with control (P < 0.01). Mean weaning weight (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) of litters in CW groups were higher than those in control group. There were no differences in the measured variables, with the exception of the respiration rates, between the two CW treatment groups. These results suggest that CW may improve the performance of sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures and the 15 °C water, from an energy viewpoint, may be more effective.     

Canine model of ischemic stroke with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion: clinical and histopathological findings

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and histopathological findings in a canine model of ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in four healthy beagle dogs using silicone plugs. They showed neurological signs of forebrain dysfunction such as reduced responsiveness, head turning, circling, postural reaction deficits, perceptual deficits, and hemianopsia. These signs gradually regressed within 4 weeks without therapy. On magnetic resonance imaging, T2 hyperintensity and T1 hypointensity were found in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. These lesions were well-defined and sharply demarcated from adjacent brain parenchyma with a homogenous appearance. No abnormalities of the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. At necropsy, atrophic and necrotic lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus were partially unstained with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride. Histopathologically, typical features of infarction were identified in cortical and thalamic lesions. This study demonstrates that our canine model resembles the conditions of real stroke patients.     

Effect of mixed protein silage in feed on the digestive tract and metabolism parameters in swine

With a view to studying the effect of acid addition, weaned piglets and fattening pigs were fed graduated amounts of protein mixed silage (pH-value 3.15 by adding 20 g H2SO4/kg) in rations of equal energy and protein levels. On average, the fattening pigs were taking in 0.26 g H2SO4/kg, whilst the amounts for piglets were 0.60 and 0.72 g H2SO4/kg. Higher acid intakes had a negative effect of energy expenditure, weight gains and feed intake. The experimental animals had significantly longer small intestines, whilst the intestine's wall was found thinner and the amount of digesta reduced and with a higher water content. The microbial activity in the stomach proved significantly inhibited. However, it was higher in the caecum as compared to the control animals. Metabolic parameters suggest that water and mineral balances are under stress. The significance of acid addition for tract flora and its metabolites is discussed. Protein mixed silage is regarded a dietetically favourable feed when given at a maximum daily amount of 25 g/kg LW or 1 kg/animal. The recommendation for dosing the daily administration of inorganic acids is as follows: max. 0.5 g acid/kg LW or 20 g/animal.     

Papyriflavonol A, a new prenylated flavonol from Broussonetia papyrifera

A new prenylated flavonol, papyriflavonol A, was isolated from the root barks of Broussonetia papyrifera. The structure of this compound was elucidated as 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-6,5'-di-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl)-flavonol (1) by spectroscopic analysis.     

Study on half-scale model test for light-frame shear wall

A half-scale model of a light-frame shear wall was developed to evaluate the racking performance of a fullscale shear wall (prototype). The effect of nail size on the performance of the shear wall was also investigated using models constructed with three types of nail. Materials for the model were determined through experimental methods, which included nail-head push-through, stud-to-sheathing nail connection, and static bending tests. Materials with which the model was made to be in similarity to the prototype were three-layer 4.8-mm plywood, 39.72-mm long nails, and 1 × 2 lumber cut from 2 × 4 studs. In accordance with ASTM E 72 and ASTM E 564, racking resistance tests were conducted on 20 shear walls. The results showed that the maximum load capacities of the prototype walls could be evaluated by the model without significantly different failure modes. Tests on the effect of nail size revealed that increasing the nail head diameter may improve the performance of shear walls.Parts of this paper were presented at the International Conference on Effective Utilization of Plantation Timber (ICEUPT'99), Chi-Tou, Taiwan, May 1999; and the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE2000), Whistler, Canada, July–August 2000