Indirect calorimetry to estimate energy requirements for growing and finishing Nellore bulls

Determination of nutritional requirements is the basis for diet formulation. The objectives of this study were to determine the net energy requirements for maintenance （NEro） and weight gain （NEg） in Nellore bulls during the growing and finishing phases, and to estimate efficiency of metabolizable energy （ME） utilization for maintenance and gain （km, kg）. Five Nellore bulls were housed in individual pens at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais （Belo Horizonte, Brazil） and evaluated over four experimental periods at 210, 315,378 and 454 kg shrunk body weight （SBW）, approximately. During each period, heat production （HP） was quantified by open circuit indirect calorimetry for three feeding levels： ad libitum, restricted and fasting. The NEm requirement was determined by linear regression between the Log of HP andthe ME intake （MEI） for the ad libitum and restricted levels. This requirement was also determined by quantifying fasting heat production （FHP）. The NEQ requirement was calculated by the difference between MEI and HP during ad libitum feeding. The k and kg were calculated by the relationship between net energy （NE） and ME requirements for maintenance and weight gain （MEm, MEp）, respectively. The NEm requirements per kg of metabolic empty body weight （EBW0.75） fluctuated between 348 and 517 kJ d-1, showing a decreasing trend with age, and were higher than the values reported in the literature. The NEg requirements ranged between 48.3 and 164 kJ kg-1 EBW0.75 d-1, and varied according to age and weight gain. The k values varied between 58.6 and 69.7%, while kg varied between 23.4 and 40.2%. We concluded that NEm and NEg requirements were influenced by age and possibly by the level of stress, nervousness and activity of animals into the respirometry chamber. Further studies should quantify HP with records of positional changes （time spent standing vs. lying down）. Additionally, HP quantification should be repeatedly performed in the same experimental period to obtain a representative value of NEg requirements.

Possible Explanation of the Dynamics of the Universe Expansion without Dark Energy and without New Gravitational Degrees of Freedom

The commonly accepted view is that the Universe is currently in the dark energy dominance era (estimated to start about 5 billion years ago)—the era where yet unknown dark energy dominates over the gravitation and is responsible for the observed acceleration of the Universe expansion. In the present paper, we consider a “gas” of a large number of gravitating neutral nonrelativistic particles having a practically infinite lifetime and zero or very little interaction with the rest of the matter (neutrinos could be an example). One of the central points is the application of Dirac’s Generalized Hamiltonian Dynamics to pairs of these particles. Another central point is the application of the virial theorem to pairs of zero total energy. We demonstrate that as a result, the gravitational interaction within the entire system effectively decreases. Together with the observational fact of the Universe rotation (according to Shamir’s study of 2020), this model provides a possible explanation of the entire history of the Universe expansion: both the era of the decelerating expansion and the current era of the accelerated expansion.

Evaluation and Simulation of the Effect of the Types of Glazing and the Choice of Materials on the Energy Efficiency of a Building

Tunisia is one of the pioneering developing countries in terms of energy efficiency policy initiated since the mid-1980s.Indeed,energy efficiency has become one of the main pillars of the country’s energy strategy,especially with the increase in energy prices.The main objective of this work is to give an idea of the impact that certain choices made during the design of a building can have on its energy balance,namely the orientation of the facades,the types of glazing and their surfaces,the choice of materials,etc.The calculation of the building’s energy requirement was determined using the transient systems simulation program TRNSYS(version 18)with a modular structure.

Prognostication of energy indices of tractor-implement utilizing soft computing techniques

Energy indices(energy requirement for tillage implement(ERTI)and tractor overall energy efficiency(TOEE))of tractor-implement during tillage operations were aimed to be investigated in this study.To generate a new comprehensive model,the effects of forward speed at three levels(2,4 and 6 km/h)and plowing depth at three levels(10,20 and 30 cm)on energy indices were experimentally evaluated.Two soft computing techniques,artificial neural network(ANN)and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system(ANFIS),were employed to prognosticate energy indices.Comparison between the best developed structure of each soft computing technique demonstrated that one comprehensive ANN model was preferred than two individual ANFIS models.According to the ANN prognostication results,simultaneous increase of forward speed from 2 to 6 km/h along with plowing depth increment from 10 to 30 cm led to nonlinear increment of the ERTI and TOEE from 33.87 to 122.66 MJ/ha and 4.65 to 17.85%,respectively.Moreover,interaction of forward speed and plowing depth on energy indices was congruent.Development of comprehensive ANN model now makes it possible to answer fundamental questions in domain of the effect of plowing depth and forward speed on energy indices of tractor-implement that were previously intractable.Hence,to properly manage energy indices and reduce energy dissipation of tractor-implement,application of the new developed ANN model is strongly recommended.

Nutritional therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19:A narrative and integrative review

Hospitalized patients affected by coronavirus disease 19(COVID-19)have a sustained pro-inflammatory state and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms that correlate with a decline in the nutritional status,which is directly related to poor immune response and clinical evolution.Nutritional therapy has proven crucial in COVID-19 treatment through the provision of adequate amounts of nutrients.Since the beginning of the pandemic,medical societies have mobilized to provide practical nutritional guidelines to support decision-making;despite this,there are only a few studies dedicated to compiling the most relevant recommendations.In this narrative review,we aimed to summarize and stratify the current scientific literature on nutritional support for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.We carried out a literature review from three databases between January 2020 and July 2021,using nutrition therapy(or medical nutrition or enteral nutrition or parental nutrition or nutritional support)and COVID-19(SARS-CoV-2 infection)as the search terms.Only those studies that evaluated adult hospitalized patients with admissions to wards,specific clinics,or intensive care units were included.The nutritional intervention considered was that of specific nutritional support via oral,enteral,or parenteral modes.A total of 37 articles were included.In general,the nutritional care provided to COVID-19 patients follows the same premises as for other patients,i.e.,it opts for the most physiological route and meets nutritional demands based on the clinical condition.However,some protocols that minimize the risk of contamination exposure for the health team have to be considered.Energy requirements varied from 15 kcal/kg/day to 30 kcal/kg/day and protein goals from 1.2 g/kg/day to 2 g/kg/day.In both cases,the ramp protocol for increased supply should be considered.In cases of enteral therapy,ready-to-use diet and continuous mode are recommended.Attention to refeeding syndrome is essential when parenteral nutrition is used.