Intestinal absorption mechanisms of young calves change rapidly during the first 24 h postpartum and subsequently effect the absorption efficiencies of a wide range of compounds. This study was conducted to determine absorption efficiencies of (p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl)dichloroethylene (DDE), 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153), and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) when administered in colostrum to neonatal calves. Four male Holstein calves were given a single oral dose containing 100 mg each of DDE, PCB-153, and OCDD either 1 h (n = 2) or 65 h (n = 2) postpartum to determine whether time of exposure influenced the rate or extent of absorption. Another male calf received 100 mg each of DDE and OCDD 1 h postpartum. One gram of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) was administered as a digestion marker to dosed calves. Two male calves, receiving only colostrum, served as controls. Serum IgG concentrations indicated that the 1-h calves absorbed 20 to 37% of the ingested IgG and 65-h calves < 2%; therefore, the gut absorption mechanisms had changed by 65 h. Plasma DDE, PCB-153, and OCDD profiles did not differ based on time of exposure, suggesting that their mechanism of absorption was not influenced by the changing gut. Trapezoidal area under the curve to the last time point values indicated that, during the trial, relative plasma organochlorine concentrations amounted to PCB-153 > DDE > OCDD. Tissue concentrations were similar across treatment groups, with DDE and PCB-153 residues concentrating in adipose tissue and OCDD in the liver. Absorption efficiencies, calculated from fecal recoveries, were >97%, >74%, and >72% for DDE, PCB-153, and OCDD, respectively. These doses of DDE, PCB-153, and OCDD (2.5 ± 0.1 mg/kg) did not produce signs of toxicosis based on detailed clinical observations, serum clinical chemistry, and gross and histological observations at necropsy. The results of this study indicate that DDE, PCB-153, and OCDD were absorbed and distributed similarly in calves exposed 1 or 65 h postpartum and did not induce toxicosis when administered in combination at these concentrations.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common neurocutaneus disorders. NF1 is caused by defects in the NF1 gene, coding for the neurofibromin protein which acts as a tumor suppressor. The inheritance of NF1 is autosomal dominant.
Swine manure mixed with sawdust was composted in 205 L pilotscale vessels. Four runs with a total of 22 vesselstudies were made during 1998 and 1999. Composting was conducted, with either continuous or intermittent aerationsupplied to each vessel, for 17 to 29 days. Temperatures, airflow, carbon dioxide production, oxygen uptake, and ammoniaproduction were monitored. Material masses, moisture contents, pH, and various chemical concentrations were determinedfor initial and final samples. Further, in the final two runs, condensate from the exhaust air stream from each vessel wascollected using watercooled condensers (40 cm, 15 C) and weighed every 12 hours. Condensates and extracts from initialand final material samples were analyzed by gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector for volatile fatty acids (VFAs).The results indicated that airflow had a strong effect on emissions. Ammonia release showed a linear trend vs. total airflow,with about 50% reduction in ammonia occurring for a 75% reduction in airflow. Acetic, propionic, and butyric acid emissionswere reduced by 68%, 68%, and 33%, respectively, and isobutyric, isovaleric, and valeric acid emissions were increased by151%, 8%, and 18% for a similar airflow reduction. Thus, there is potential for reduced odors with reduced airflow. Resultsalso indicated that initial pH influenced onset of composting and the potential for odor release. For vessels with initial pHbelow 5.95, compost heating was slow, and temperature and CO2 production patterns indicated gradual development of, andshifts between, mesophilic and thermophilic bacterial activity. For vessels that started at higher pH values, development wasmuch more rapid. These effects, combined with the fact that a significant majority of the VFAs initially present were not emittedbut were not present at the end of the runs (particularly in the higher pH vessels), indicated that high bacterial activity wasimportant for reduction of odor potential.
Shortly after birth, plasma glucose and fructose concentrations of the neonate decline and thus leave blood sugar below the homeostatic mode. Two trials were conducted to determine the plasma glucose and fructose kinetics in control and supplemented calves for 108 h after birth. In the short-term trial, six Holstein calves were given 40 g of either fructose, lactose, or water (control) orally at 1 and 96 h after birth. Treatments were administered with a colostrum substitute (Life Boost™) at 1 h and whole milk at 96 h. Rectal temperatures and changes in plasma glucose and fructose concentrations were monitored at close intervals for 12 h after supplementation. In the long-term trial, 15 Holstein calves were given 40 g of either lactose, fructose, or water (control) at 1 h after birth and at 12-h intervals for 81 h. Plasma glucose and fructose concentrations were determined before and 4 h after each of the seven feedings. Early postpartal feeding of fructose suppressed plasma glucose (? 50%), with a reciprocal rise in plasma fructose. Irrespective of treatment, plasma glucose concentrations did not stabilize (∿ 100 mg/dL) until 17 to 24 h after birth. After 24 h, lactose supplements increased concentrations of plasma glucose 4 h after supplementation (169.7 ± 8.2 mg/dL), compared with those in calves that did not receive the additional lactose. After 24 h, fructose supplements did not affect plasma glucose, but plasma fructose concentrations increased (82.6 ± 12.4 mg/dL) 4 h after administration. The response to fructose supplements declined by 11.4 mg × dL−1 × d−1. Fructose was not detected in the plasma of control or lactose-treated calves after 17 h after birth. Calves that received fructose supplements had rectal temperatures 8 and 10 h after birth that were higher than those of the other calves. The mechanisms of sugar metabolism change quickly following birth. Oral sugar supplements increase the total plasma sugar concentrations of treated calves.
Composting of animal manures, among other benefits, destroys a wide variety ofodorous chemicals and reduces the social impact of the manures while producing valueadded products. Extensive studies (eight trials involving a total of about 60 pilot-scalevessels) of odorants from composting of manures from both lactating cows (Barn 1) andheifers (Barn 2) have been conducted over the last two years. Both continuous andintermittent aeration were studied, and fresh and 12 day aged manures were used. Standarddata on the kinetics of each vessel were collected. Ammonia emissions were trapped in boricacid and quantified. Material samples and exhaust gas condensates were collected, and thecondensates and extracts from the material samples were analyzed for VFAs (C2 to C5),phenolics and indolics. Gas chromatography using either flame ionization or massspectrographic detection was employed. Data on sulfur emission, obtained in the later runsusing either a Jerome Meter or Drger tubes, is presented. VOC emissions amounted to lessthan one percent of the odorants in the composting materials. Nevertheless, 95 to 100% ofthese materials were gone within about a week. This suggests that bacterial utilization is themost important mechanism for the elimination of odors during composting.
Effects of composting on odorous chemicals in dairy manure were investigated in replicated pilot-scale studies. Three 16-day composting trials were conducted, using 205 L vessels containing 83 kg mass. Fresh or 12-day-aged manure, from lactating cows, was mixed with sawdust (3man:1saw w/w). Vessels were either aerated continuously with high (2.3 kg/hr)/low (0.8 kg/hr) air flow controlled by thermostats or intermittently on a 5 min high air flow/55 min off clock controlled cycle. Six vessel replicates were conducted on each manure/air flow treatment combination. Temperatures, air flow, O2 consumption, and CO2 production were recorded every 10 minutes. Trapped NH3 emissions were determined daily. Exhaust air was passed through water-cooled condensers to analyze emitted volatiles, and condensate volume, pH, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were quantified at 12 or 24 hour intervals. Solids were collected from each vessel initially, at remix at the end of day 7, and at the end of each trial (day 16) for analysis of moisture, pH, ash, C/N, and odorants. Phenolics and indolics were extracted with ethyl ether. VFAs were recovered with pH 2.0 water. Analysis was by flame or mass selective detection gas chromatography. Temperature increased most rapidly in continuously aerated vessels yet maintained a lower mean temperature (49 vs 58°C) than intermittent aeration. Both returned to near ambient temperature by day 16. Continuous aeration nearly doubled (11 vs 18 L) the amount of condensate released over 16 days. Fresh manure/sawdust mixes contained 6553, 795, 77, 51, 19, and 17μg/g of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, phenol, and p-cresol. Aged manure mixes contained 9350, 3397, 2810, 445, 285, 441, 34, 176, and 18 μg/g acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, phenol, p-cresol, and skatole, as well as a number of C11 to C17 fatty acids. Both aeration methods maintained conditions that resulted in the destruction of most of the odorous chemicals studied in the composting mass in 7 days with only small quantities of acetate, isobutyrate, and skatole present by the end of day 16. Continuous aeration, as opposed to intermittent, more than doubled (115 vs 55 g) the emissions of NH3-N and increased the emissions of VFAs in condensate four-fold. Whereas, limited aeration did not destroy the odorants as rapidly, they remained in the compost until destruction.
Offensive odors which evolve during the decomposition of swine waste have resulted in complaints from neighbors in agricultural areas. This study chronologically monitored the emissions of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during composting to quantify the release of malodorous compounds. Swine waste/sawdust mixtures and sawdust controls were placed in 208 liter reactor vessels and constantly aerated over a 21-day period. Acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids were quantified in total collections of condensed water vapor and volatiles released from the vessels. Exit gasses were passed through water-cooled condensers, and condensate was collected every 12 hours. Composting conditions were shown to be adequate by measuring carbon to nitrogen ratios, pH, temperature, and moisture contents. The 21-day aerobic treatment decreased all VFAs in the swine waste mixtures by 61 to 100 percent, with a mean of 87 percent. Prior to peak gas volatilization, when the vessel contents attained peak composting temperatures, acetic acid was emitted in the greatest amounts, followed by butyric, propionic, valeric, isovaleric, and isobutyric acids in order of decreasing emissions. Following peak gas volatilization, butyric acid was released in the greatest amounts, followed by acetic, propionic, valeric, isovaleric, and isobutyric acids. The described condensation procedure was shown to be an effective method to quantify malodorous compounds emitted during the decomposition of livestock waste. In addition, aeration was an effective treatment to decrease VFAs and, therefore, odor potential resulting from their emissions.
Dermatoglyphic findings were compared in 42 patients (32 females, 10 males) with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and 110 normal controls (70 females, 40 males). In CAH males, an excess of whorls (p < 0.001), an increased total finger ridge count (p < 0.05), and an increased frequency of patterns in the fourth interdigital area (p < 0.025) was found. A main line A terminating high in the hypothenar area (p < 0.05), and a missing c‐triradius or an abortive main line C (p < 0.05) was observed in CAH females. Both sexes displayed an increase in the frequency of small radially directed hypothenar patterns (p < 0.05) and Sydney lines (p < 0.01).
