Effects of soybean isoflavone on intestinal antioxidant capacity and cytokines in young piglets fed oxidized fish oil

To investigate the effect of glycitein, a synthetic soybean isoflavone (ISF), on the intestinal antioxidant capacity, morphology, and cytokine content in young piglets fed oxidized fish oil, 72 4-d-old male piglets were assigned to three treatments. The control group was fed a basal diet containing fresh fish oil, and the other two groups received the same diet except for the substitution with the same dosage of oxidized fish oil alone or with ISF (oxidized fish oil plus ISF). After 21 d of feeding, supplementation of oxidized fish oil increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NO, and Caspase-3 in jejunal mucosa, and decreased the villous height in duodenum and the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and IL-4 in the jejunal mucosa compared with supplementation with fresh oil. The addition of oxidized fish oil plus ISF partially alleviated this negative effect. The addition of oxidized fish oil plus ISF increased the villous height and levels of sIgA and IL-4 in jejunal mucosa, but decreased the levels of IL-1β and IL-2 in jejunal mucosa (P<0.05) compared with oxidized fish oil. Collectively, these results show that dietary supplementation of ISF could partly alleviate the negative effect of oxidized fish oil by improving the intestinal morphology as well as the antioxidant capacity and immune function in young piglets.     

Influence of low protein diets on gene expression of digestive enzymes and hormone secretion in the gastrointestinal tract of young weaned piglets

To investigate dietary protein level effects on digestive mechanisms, weaned piglets were fed for 45 d with diets containing 20%, 17%, or 14% crude protein (CP) supplemented to meet requirements for essential amino acids. This article describes the influence of dietary protein on gastrointestinal hormones and expression of an array of digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in expression of enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion, except for maltase in the duodenum. In the jejunum, amylase expression in pigs fed 20% CP was much higher than that in pigs fed other diets (P<0.05) and maltase expression in those fed 17% CP was higher than that in other treatments (P<0.05). Although there were no remarkable differences in expression of aminopeptidase in the small intestine or carboxypeptidase in the pancreas (P>0.05), there was a trend towards higher expression of various proteases in pigs fed 17% CP. The duodenal expression of enteropeptidase in diets with 14% and 17% CP was significantly higher than that with 20% CP (P<0.05), but treatment differences did not existed in jejunum (P>0.05). The expression of GPR93 as a nutrient-responsive G protein-coupled receptor in 14% and 17% CP diets was significantly higher than that in 20% CP diet in the small intestine (P<0.05). The expressions of genes for pancreatic enzymes, lipase and elastase, were significantly higher in pigs fed diets with low CP, while similar trends occurred for carboxypeptidase, chymotrypsin and amylase. Conversely, the gastric expressions of pepsinogen A and progastricsin were lower with the 17% CP diet. Differences between treatments were found in the gastric antral contents of cholecystokinin and somatostatin: both increased in pigs fed 17% CP, accompanied by decreased content of motilin, which was also seen in plasma concentrations. These patterns were not reflected in duodenal contents. In general, 17% dietary CP was beneficial to the digestion of nutrient substance in the gastrointestinal tract.     

Response to weaning and dietary L-glutamine supplementation: metabolomic analysis in piglets by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A novel metabolomic method based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to determine the metabolites in the serum of piglets in response to weaning and dietary L-glutamine (Gln) supplementation. Thirty-six 21-d-old piglets were randomly assigned into three groups. One group continued to suckle from the sows (suckling group), whereas the other two groups were weaned and their diets were supplemented with 1% (w/w) Gln or isonitrogenous L-alanine, respectively, representing Gln group or control group. Serum samples were collected to characterize metabolites after a 7-d treatment. Results showed that twenty metabolites were down-regulated significantly (P<0.05) in control piglets compared with suckling ones. These data demonstrated that early weaning causes a wide range of metabolic changes across arginine and proline metabolism, aminosugar and nucleotide metabolism, galactose metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, and fatty acid metabolism. Dietary Gln supplementation increased the levels of creatinine, D-xylose, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, palmitelaidic acid, and α-L-galactofuranose (P<0.05) in early weaned piglets, and were involved in the arginine and proline metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. A leave-one-out cross-validation of random forest analysis indicated that creatinine was the most important metabolite among the three groups. Notably, the concentration of creatinine in control piglets was decreased (P=0.00001) compared to the suckling piglets, and increased (P=0.0003) in Gln-supplemented piglets. A correlation network for weaned and suckling piglets revealed that early weaning changed the metabolic pathways, leading to the abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism, which could be partially improved by dietary Gln supplementation. These findings provide fresh insight into the complex metabolic changes in response to early weaning and dietary Gln supplementation in piglets.     

日粮添加“仔猪健”对仔猪生产性能和抗拉稀效果观察及分析

为探讨＂仔猪健＂对仔猪生产性能及抗拉稀效果的影响,试验选择35-40日龄杜长大/杜大长仔猪80头,随机分成实验组和对照组,每组40头,对照组用普通4%乳猪预混料配制基础日粮,试验组在对照组基础日粮的基础上另按1%比例添加＂仔猪健＂,试验期28天。结果表明试验组仔猪在腹泻率、头均增重、头均日增重、料肉比等方面均优于对照组,经济效益明显。     

糖萜素替代抗生素对仔猪的饲喂效果

本试验比较了含糖萜素(Ⅰ)、含抗生素(Ⅱ)日粮以及空白对照组(Ⅲ)的饲养效果.结果表明:Ⅰ组的平均日增重为472克,料重比为1.84:1;Ⅱ组的平均日增重为431克,料重比为1.98:1;而对照组的平均日增重为399克,料重比为2.12:1,三组猪的生长速度、饲料转化率和腹泻率的差异均达到显著水平(p＜0.05).     

微量元素锌对断奶仔猪生长性能的影响

实验选用某猪场断奶仔猪40头,随机分成4组。每日饲粮中添加不同水平和形式的锌添加剂,即添加氧化锌来源100mg／kg锌（工组,即对照组）、氧化锌来源3000mg／kg锌（Ⅱ组）、蛋氨酸锌来源100mg／kg锌（Ⅲ组）和蛋氨酸锌来源300mg／kg锌（Ⅳ组）。通过记录仔猪采食量、日增重和腹泻率,并在试验期第14天、第28天和第42天检测血常规,研究不同水平和形式的锌对断奶仔猪生长性能的影响。实验结果表明：饲粮中添加高剂量氧化锌（3000mg／kg锌）和蛋氨酸锌（300mg／kg锌）都能显著促进断奶仔猪的生长,且蛋氨酸锌来源的锌与氧化锌来源的锌以相同剂量添加时前者优于后者。     

仔猪黄白痢的综合防治

仔猪黄白痢是哺乳仔猪最为常见也是危害最为严重的疾病之一,直接影响仔猪的成活率和猪场的经济效益。该病是由致病性大肠杆菌引起的1-7日龄,10-30日龄初生仔猪的一种以急性腹泻为特征的肠道传染病。可导致仔猪成活率低,增重缓慢,饲料报酬低,给养猪业带来巨大的经济损失。     

Effects of dietary fresh fermented soybean meal on growth performance,ammonia and particulate matter emissions,and nitrogen excretion in nursery piglets

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fresh fermented soybean meal (FSM) on the growth performance of nursery piglets, nitrogen excretion in feces, and the concentrations of ammonia (NH₃) and particulate matter (PM) in the piggery. A total of 472 nursery piglets (Landrace×Yorkshire, (16.3±0.36) kg body weight) were randomly allocated into two treatments with 236 pigs in each treatment. The pigs were fed the basal diet without fresh FSM (control) or diet containing 10% (100 g/kg) fresh FSM (FSM group), and the crude protein content of the two groups was consistent. The feeding trial lasted for 28 d. The results showed that the pigs fed fresh FSM had increased (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) compared with the control. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed to gain ratio (F:G) between the two groups. During the whole experiment, the concentration of NH₃ in the piggery decreased (P<0.05) by 19.0%, and the concentrations of PM (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) in the piggery decreased (P<0.05) by 19.9% and 11.6%, respectively, in the FSM group, compared with the control. The ammonia nitrogen and nitrite content in feces increased (P<0.05) by 32.9% and 28.4%, respectively, in the FSM group. The fecal pH declined (P<0.05) significantly in the FSM group compared with the control. At the end of experiment, total protein (TP) concentration was increased (P<0.05) significantly and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was decreased (P<0.05) for pigs fed the diet with fresh FSM. The results indicated that dietary fresh FSM not only improved the growth performance of nursery piglets, but also reduced the NH₃ concentration in the piggery due to nitrogen conversion, and decreased the concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the piggery.     

The Relationships Between Academic Self-Efficacy,Computer Self-Efficacy,Prior Experience,and Satisfaction With Online Learning

This study investigated the relationships between academic self-efficacy (ASE), computer self-efficacy (CSE), prior experience, and satisfaction with online learning and explored how ASE, CSE, and satisfaction vary with age and gender. One hundred and three graduate students enrolled in purely online courses in January 2014 at a university in the midwestern United States participated in the survey. Scales with known reliability were used to measure ASE, CSE, and satisfaction. The study showed a significant positive correlation among all the variables except CSE and satisfaction. Regression analysis showed ASE to be most predictive of satisfaction with online learning. Females had a higher mean ASE than males, and participants aged thirty-five years and above had a higher mean CSE than younger participants.     

Is adult celiac disease really uncommon in Chinese?

Celiac disease (CD) is a type of intestinal malabsorption syndrome, in which the patients are intolerant to the gliadin in dietary gluten, resulting in chronic diarrhea and secondary malnutrition. The disease is common in Europe and the United States, but only sporadic reports are found in East Asia including China. Is CD really rare in China? We examined 62 patients by capsule endoscopy for chronic diarrhea from June 2003 to March 2008. Four patients with chronic diarrhea and weight loss were diagnosed to have CD. Under the capsule endoscopy, we observed that the villi of the proximal small bowel became short, and that the mucous membrane became atrophied in these four patients. Duodenal biopsies were performed during gastroscopy and the pathological changes of mucosa were confirmed to be Marsh 3 stage of CD. A gluten free diet significantly improved the conditions of the four patients. We suspect that in China, especially in the northern area where wheat is the main food, CD might not be uncommon, and its under-diagnosis could be caused by its clinical manifestations that could be easily covered by the symptoms from other clinical situations, particularly when it came to subclinical patients without obvious symptom or to patients with extraintestinal symptoms as the initial manifestations.     

The mediating role of mindfulness on stress and counseling self-efficacy

The authors explored how mindfulness influenced the relationship between perceived stress and counseling self-efficacy (CSE) among 187 counseling students. Results suggest mindfulness mediated the relationship, diminishing the negative impact of stress on CSE. Implications address how counselor educators can promote mindfulness as an avenue to enhance counselor development by increasing CSE and reducing stress in counseling students.     

猪圆环病毒感染的防治

猪圆环病毒常感染刚出生的仔猪、断奶仔猪、肥育猪和母猪,使之免疫力下降.往往同时或继发其他病毒和细菌感染,使症状更危重而难以治疗,造成种猪场和养殖户重大损失.文章就该病毒的特征、感染症状以及临床诊断和防治方法等作相关阐述.     

Exploring the Relationships Between Counseling Students’ Cultural Factors,Academic Aptitude,and Self‐Efficacy

The authors explored the pattern of change in counseling students’ (N = 373) counseling self‐efficacy (CSE) throughout their program and the influence of identifying variables. Results indicated that specific factors significantly predicted students’ initial CSE levels and the rate of CSE change. Implications for future research and counselor education programs are presented.     

Towards comprehensive sexuality education: a comparative analysis of the policy environment surrounding school-based sexuality education in Ghana,Peru, Kenya and Guatemala

The successful implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programmes in schools depends on the development and implementation of strong policy in support of CSE. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the policy environment governing school-based CSE in four low- and middle-income countries at different stages of programme implementation: Ghana, Peru, Kenya and Guatemala. Based on an analysis of current policy and legal frameworks, key informant interviews and recent regional reviews, the analysis focuses on seven policy-related levers that contribute to successful school-based sexuality education programmes. The levers cover policy development trends; current policy and legal frameworks for sexuality education; international commitments affecting CSE policies; the various actors involved in shaping CSE; and the partnerships and coalitions of actors that influence CSE policy. Our analysis shows that all four countries benefit from a policy environment that, if properly leveraged, could lead to a stronger implementation of CSE in schools. However, each faces several key challenges that must be addressed to ensure the health and wellbeing of their young people. Latin American and African countries show notable differences in the development and evolution of their CSE policy environments, providing valuable insights for programme development and implementation.     

Commercially sexually exploited youths’ health care experiences,barriers, and recommendations: A qualitative analysis

The current study sought to understand commercially sexually exploited (CSE) youths’ health care experiences, barriers to care, and recommendations for improving health care services. We conducted focus groups (N = 5) with 18 CSE youth from February 2015 through May 2016 at two group homes serving CSE youth in Southern California. We performed thematic content analysis to identify emergent themes about CSE youths’ perspectives on health care. Youth described facilitators to care, including availability of services such as screening for sexually transmitted infections, knowledge about sexual health, and a strong motivation to stay healthy. Barriers included feeling judged, concerns about confidentiality, fear, perceived low quality of services, and self-reliance. Overall, youth emphasized self-reliance and “street smarts” for survival and de-emphasized “victimhood,” which shaped their interactions with health care, and recommended that health providers develop increased understanding of CSE youth. Our findings suggest that providers and community agencies can play an essential role in raising awareness of the needs of CSE youth and meet their health needs through creating a non-judgmental environment in health care settings that validates the experiences of these youth.     

Mindfulness,coping self-efficacy and foreign language anxiety: a mediation analysis

This study sought to explore the relationship between mindfulness, coping self-efficacy (CSE) and foreign language anxiety (FLA) among a sample of 295 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. Further, the capacity of CSE in mediating the relationship between mindfulness and FLA was tested. The participants were administered self-reported questionnaires. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised. The results of SEM analysis showed that higher levels of mindfulness were associated with lower levels of FLA and greater CSE. In addition, it was found that CSE could partially mediate the relationship between mindfulness and FLA. Implications are discussed.     

金华地区部分规模猪场哺乳仔猪球虫感染情况调查

为了掌握浙江省金华地区规模猪场的球虫病感染情况。以便制定相应的猪球虫病防治措施．采用饱和盐水漂浮法对金华地区14个规模猪场哺乳仔猪球虫感染情况进行调查。统计结果：不同季节猪场哺乳仔猪球虫感染阳性率64．28％～71．43％,平均66．07％;样品阳性率25．59％—27．93％,平均26．91％,不同季节猪场阳性率和样品阳性率均无显著性差异;腹泻样品和不腹泻样品球虫阳性率分剐为26．99％-28．72％和9．39％-20．59％,差异板显著（P〈O．01）;3—22日龄仔猪球虫阳性率12．97％-33．54％,平均阳性率9-21日龄相对较高,15—16日龄最高。表明规模猪场哺乳仔猪球虫感染普遍存在。9～21日龄阳性率相对较高。     

Islamic parents’ attitudes and beliefs towards school-based sexual and reproductive health education programmes in Oman

School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programmes play an important role in reducing young people’s sexual risk behaviour and promoting health and well-being. There is limited evidence regarding the attitudes and beliefs of parents towards the implementation of school-based CSE programmes in Islamic cultural settings, including Oman, which this mixed-method study set out to explore. A convenience sample of 250 parents, with equal numbers of mothers and fathers of children aged 12–14 years (grades 7–9) at two urban public pre-secondary schools in Saham, completed a paper-based self-administered questionnaire in Arabic. We found most parents (72.8%) supported school-based CSE programmes that conformed to Islamic requirements of pre-marital sexual abstinence, but there was some opposition. Almost all parents supported comprehensive age-appropriate CSE being taught to students aged 10–15 years, including topics perceived as controversial in Omani culture, except for birth control and safer sex. Most parents considered themselves, school teachers and school nurses to be important sources of CSE. The study findings which suggest strong parental support for CSE programmes can facilitate education policy, CSE curriculum decision-makers and school healthcare-providers in Oman, other Middle Eastern countries, and countries with Muslim immigrant populations.     

Student personality differences are related to their responses on instructor evaluation forms

The relation of student personality to student evaluations of teaching (SETs) was determined in a sample of 144 undergraduates. Student Big Five personality variables and core self-evaluation (CSE) were assessed. Students rated their most preferred instructor (MPI) and least preferred instructor (LPI) on 11 common evaluation items. Pearson and partial correlations simultaneously controlling for six demographic variables, Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness showed that SETs were positively related to Agreeableness and CSE and negatively related to Neuroticism, supporting the three hypotheses of study. Each of these significant relations was maintained when MPI, LPI or a composite of MPI and LPI served as the SET criterion. For example, the MPI-LPI composite correlated .28 with Agreeableness, .35 with CSE and –.28 with Neuroticism. Similar correlations resulted for MPI and LPI. Hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that the CSE was an independent predictor of MPI ratings, Agreeableness was an independent predictor of LPI ratings, and both the CSE and Agreeableness were independent predictors of MPI-LPI composite ratings. Neuroticism did not emerge as an independent predictor because of the substantial correlation between CSE and Neuroticism (r = .53) and because CSE had greater predictive capacity. This is the first study to incorporate the CSE construct into the SET literature.     

Support for Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Adolescent Access to Condoms and Contraception in South Carolina

A telephone survey was administered to residents of a historically conservative southern state to assess resident's level of support for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools and support for the availability of condoms and contraception to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Data were obtained from 841 residents and findings revealed that the majority of residents: (a) support CSE, (b) support access to birth control, and (c) support the availability of condoms. Data were analyzed to determine characteristics of those in support of these prevention strategies so that data could inform key stakeholders, policy makers and health promotion strategies.