Effects of Feeding Time on the Growth Performance and Variation of RNA/DNA Ratio of the Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

The present study was to investigate the effects of feeding time on growth of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle. The experiment was carried out with a photoperiod of 12L(light):12D(dark) with lights on at 06:00 and off at 18:00. Turtles were maintained at a temperature of 32 ± 0.2 °C in tanks throughout the length of the experiment. The turtles in group 1 to group 6 were fed respectively at 00:00, 04:00, 08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00 with 60 turtles each(Initial body weight 88.27 ± 0.09 g). Acrophases of postprandial RNA/DNA ratio in liver in each group was shown between 5h and 7h after feeding. A positive linear correlation could be seen between specific growth rate(SGR) and RNA/DNA:SGR=1.1586RNA/DNA–0.7097(r = 0.9328, P = 0.0066). The results indicated that the values at the acrophases of about 6h after feeding might be used as an instantaneous growth index in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle. The turtles in group 1 grew better than group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, because they ate more, but they ate more and grew slower than group 2, whose feed conversion rate was also higher. Meanwhile, the SGR and feeding rate of turtles fed at 12:00 were the lowest from the six groups(P < 0.05). Turtles fed in group 1, group 2 and group 6 developed more heavy final body weight(FBW), higher feeding rate and SGR than the other three groups. This probably suggested that turtles fed in scotophase grew better than that fed at photophase in total.

Ingestive Behavior and Nutritional and Physiological Parameters of Sheep Fed Diets Based on Cashew Byproduct

Objective of this study was to evaluate the ingestive behavior,feed efficiency,and nutritional and physiological parameters of sheep that were fed diets based on byproducts from the processing of cashew.The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with a 4×2 factorial arrangement with four levels of inclusion(6%,11%,16%,and 21%of cashew byproduct)and two forms of processing—with chemical treatment(CT)and without chemical treatment(NCT).The interaction levels of inclusion of the byproduct of cashew versus chemical treatments was not(P>0.05)for the dry matter intake,consumption of organic matter.No effect was observed(P>0.05)for the intake of dry matter in function of the type of chemical treatment used in the byproduct of cashew.There was no effect of interaction(P<0.05)between levels of inclusion and chemical treatment applied or not on the byproduct of cashew for the coefficients of digestibility of dry matter,organic matter and crude protein(P>0.05).The inclusion of the byproduct of cashew did not influence the behavioral parameters,intake and digestibility of the diets of sheep,being recommended to use up to the level of 21%.

Nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding in pediatric acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial

Background The aim of this study was to compare nasogastric(NG)feeding with nasojejunal(NJ)feeding when treating pediatric patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)..Methods We performed a single-center,prospective,randomized,active-controlled trial involving 77 pediatric patients with AP from April 2014 to December 2017.The patients were randomized into two groups:the NG tube feeding group(34 patients)and the NJ tube feeding group(33 patients).The primary outcome measures included the enteral nutrition intoler-ance,the length of tube feeding time,the recurrent pain of pancreatitis and complications.Results A total of 62 patients with AP(31 patients for each group)came into the final analysis.No differences were found in baseline characteristics,pediatric AP score and computed tomography severity score between the lwo groups.Three(9.7%)patients in the NG group and one(3.2%)patient in the NJ group developed intolerance(relative risk=3.00,95%confidence interval 0.33-27.29,P=0.612).The tube feeding time and length of hospital stay of the NG group were significantly shorter than those of the NJ group(P=0.016 and 0.027,respectively).No patient died in the trial.No significant differences were found in recurrent pain,complications,nutrition delivery efficacy,and side effects between the two groups.Conclusions NG tube feeding appears to be effective and safe for acute pediatric pancreatitis compared with NJ tube feeding.In addition,high qualifed,large sample sized,randomized controlled trials in pediatric population are needed.

Warming Warnings,Parks for the Public,No Time for Overtime,and Ads in your Feed

Climate change is the first real challenge of this global generation,and,so far,it hasn’t gone that well.Whether it’s rising sea levels threatening cities like Shanghai or expanding vectors of malaria,China must change with the climate.As the glaciers of China’s Third Pole retreat,as new and more regular floods attack first-tier cities and rural towns alike,as wheat yields decrease in the north and entire lakes dry up in the west,the days of ignoring climate change have