#MOLAR CONDUCTANCE & EQUIVALENT CONDUCTANCE

[addingcolors]

Gas Constant

One of the fundamental states of matter is the gaseous state, commonly known as gas. Gases possess distinct characteristics that set them apart from other states of matter. Despite being highly compressible, gases evenly distribute pressure on all sides. They lack a definite shape and volume, instead adapting to the shape of the container they occupy. Moreover, gases readily mix due to minimal interactions between their intermolecular forces.  

The behavior of gases is governed by several sets of laws derived from experimental studies conducted under various conditions, including temperature, pressure, and volume. This discussion centers around a specific constant known as the gas constant (R) and its significance.  

The gas constant (R) is a physical constant expressed in units of energy per temperature increase per mole. It is also referred to as the molar gas constant or universal gas constant. The value of R is equivalent to that of the Boltzmann constant, although the latter is expressed in terms of the pressure-volume product. This constant plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of gases and their properties under different circumstances.  

Ideal Gas  

An ideal gas is a theoretical concept used in physics and chemistry to simplify the behavior of gases under certain conditions. It is a hypothetical model of a gas that follows specific ideal gas laws, making its behavior easy to analyze and calculate.  

The behavior of real gases deviates from the ideal gas model at high pressures and low temperatures, where intermolecular forces become significant, and the volume of gas particles becomes non-negligible. However, real gases behave similarly to ideal gases under many conditions, especially at low pressures and high temperatures.  

An ideal gas can be defined as the theoretical representation of a gas comprising point particles that do not reveal any alterations during intermolecular movements. The ideal gas follows all three fundamental laws as given by Charles, Avogadro, Boyle, and Gay Lussac.   

V ∝ 1/P with T and n as constant (From Boyle's law)  

V ∝ T with P and n as constant (From Charles law)  

Finally, V ∝ n with T and n as constant (From Avogadro's law)  

Combining all three of these gives V ∝ n X T/P  

Mathematically, this can be expressed as,  

PV = nRT   

Here,   

P is the pressure  

V is the volume  

T is the temperature  

R is the Ideal Gas Constant, and  

n is the amount of substance  

Gas Constant Laws  

The gas constant r is a vital factor for numerous principles and laws of physics. It is used in various laws as a combination of a constant and equations as a fundamental factor.  

Boyle's Law: Boyle's Law is a fundamental gas law that describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a constant temperature. It states that when the volume of a gas decreases, its pressure increases, and vice versa, as long as the temperature remains constant. In mathematical terms, Boyle's Law can be expressed as:  

P ∝ 1/V  

where P is the pressure of the gas, and V is its volume. The law implies that the product of the pressure and volume of a given amount of gas is constant, provided the temperature remains unchanged.  

Charles's Law: Charles's Law, also known as the law of volumes, relates the volume of a gas to its temperature at constant pressure. It states that the volume of a gas will increase or decrease in direct proportion to its absolute temperature as long as the pressure remains constant. In mathematical terms, Charles's Law can be represented as:  

V ∝ T  

where V is the volume of the gas, and T is its absolute temperature (measured in Kelvin). As the temperature of a gas rises, its volume will expand, and conversely, as the temperature decreases, the volume will contract.  

Avogadro's Law: Avogadro's Law states that under the same temperature and pressure conditions, equal volumes of different gases contain an equal number of molecules. This law is based on the idea that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of molecules it contains. In mathematical terms, Avogadro's Law can be expressed as:  

V ∝ n  

where V is the volume of the gas, and n is the number of gas molecules. It implies that at constant temperature and pressure, the number of molecules to the volume ratio is constant for all gases.  

Gay-Lussac's Law: Gay-Lussac's Law, also known as the pressure-temperature law, describes the relationship between the pressure and temperature of a gas at constant volume. It states that the pressure of a fixed amount of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature, provided the volume remains constant. Mathematically, Gay-Lussac's Law can be represented as:  

P ∝ T  

where P is the pressure of the gas, and T is its absolute temperature. This law implies that if the temperature of a gas increases, its pressure will also increase, and if the temperature decreases, the pressure will decrease, assuming the volume remains constant.  

[pinersingapore]

Molar mass of hcl

As such, it should be treated as an approximation like Molx said as well. Hydrogen chloride Formula: ClH Molecular weight: 36.461 IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI1S/ClH/h1H. the known second gas was Isopropanol (C3H&O) (this is gas b) a. Like Molx said, it "fumes" because it is so concentrated with HCl. Use Grahams Law to identify the molar mass of an unknown gas that was used in the same experiment that you conducted given the following information (show all work): the diffusion rate ratio was 0.984 b. Molecular weight calculation: 1.00794 + 35. Convert grams HCl to moles or moles HCl to grams. When you substitute 1.014 mol HCl and 0.084 L into the molarity equation, we find that the molarity is around 12.07 M HCl, which is the highest concentration of HCl that we can obtain at room temperature. This compound is also known as Hydrochloric Acid. Multiply 100 g of our HCl solution by our density conversion factor of (1 mL/1.19g) to get 84 mL, and then divide by 1000 to get 0.084 L. To find our liters of solution, we can use our density. When you multiply 37.0 g HCl by (1 mol HCl/36.46 g HCl) as a conversion factor, we get 1.014 mol of HCl. We now know that we have 37.0 g of HCl, which is necessary for the Molarity calculation. Ultimately, to find the maximum molarity of the HCl in water, we must use the concentration equation for molarity, which is defined as moles of the solute divided by the liters of the solution (M = moles of solute/ liters of solution). The rest has to be water, as HCl is a gas at room temperature that is dissolved in water to form Hydrochloric acid. density of hydrochloric acid is equal to 1.6423 kg/m at 0C (32F or 273.15K) at standard atmospheric pressure. Hydrochloric acid weighs 0.0016423 gram per cubic centimeter or 1.6423 kilogram per cubic meter, i.e. From that assumption we know that 37% (the mass in HCl) of 100g of the HCl solution is 37.0 grams. Equivalent molar concentration per liter. Its melting point is -114.22 C (-173.596 F), boiling point -85.05 C (-121.09 F). How many moles of HCl will be produced when 249 g of AlCl 3 are reacted according to this chemical equation 2AlCl 3 + 3H 2 O () Al 2 O 3 + 6HCl (g) Solution We will do this in two steps: convert the mass of AlCl 3 to moles and then use the balanced chemical equation to find the number of moles of HCl formed. From this we can assume 100 g of HCl solution. HCl is a colorless gas at room temperature. To start, just like Molx mentioned, the maximum solubility at room temperature of HCl is 37% by mass. Lets assume that you have 5 g of HCl in a 1.2 liter solution. 90 G/mol), According To The Balanced Equation, CH4 + 2 Cl2 Rightarrow CH2Cl2 + 2 HCl The molar mass of a substance (M) is the weight of one mole of the substance Iron (II). Decide on the mass concentration of your substance you can either input it directly or fill in the boxes for substance mass and solution volume. Mole: The mass of one mole of a substance is the molar mass 2 'Atomic and Molar Masses') 0016 g / 78 Convert between FeCl2 weight and moles 16 g/cm 3. Instead of using 444g of HCl, which is perfectly fine, we can assume we have a sample of 100 g, much like we do in empirical formula calculations as to have every percent be out of 100. For the hydrochloric acid, it is equal to 36.46 g/mol. However, the way I learned it was a little different and may make more sense to some people.

[canonicalclasses]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXi8VAcLeoK1qqcdGgA3mRg

[evoldir]

Fwd: Job: OmahaZoo.LabTech.GeneticsDiagnostic

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Job: OmahaZoo.LabTech.GeneticsDiagnostic > Date: 10 September 2022 at 05:18:48 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > > Job Title: Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory Technician > > Apply here: > https://ift.tt/qoHfK37 > > Hours: Full-time > > Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to): > >  *   Assist in care, maintenance, and utilization of department >      equipment and supplies. >  *   Execute lab procedures and required tasks under supervision and >      independently. >  *   Prepare solutions and media for molecular biology applications. >  *   Maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the laboratory while >      following all safety procedures. >  *   Prepare standard operating procedures for molecular >      diagnostic tests. >  *   Liaise with vet and animal care staff on sample collection. >  *   Perform DNA extractions using various methodologies. >  *   Quantitate DNA with fluorometer and qPCR. >  *   Conduct various molecular diagnostic tests with PCR for animal >      diseases as needed, including testing trunk washes, feces, and >      blood for the presence of EEHV on a routine basis. >  *   Responsible for troubleshooting and resolving problems regarding >      essential laboratory equipment. >  *   Compile detailed and accurate documentation of all testing >      conducted. >  *   Prepare and analyze data and report on results of molecular tests >      to department director, veterinarian staff and relevant zoo >      departments. > > Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: > >  *   A bachelor's degree in biology, genetics, or related field and one >      year of associated work experience is required. An equivalent >      combination of further education and experience from which >      comparable knowledge and experience may be considered. >  *   A thorough knowledge of molecular genetics and related techniques >      with a good understanding of biology and chemistry is required. >      Experience with qPCR is highly preferred. >  *   Ability to understand and follow lab protocols and standard >      operating procedures. >  *   Clear understanding of the metric system as well as conversion >      between various weight measures, and chemical calculations (e.g., >      molarities and pH). >  *   Knowledge of basic computer programs is imperative with >      familiarity of QuantStudio design and analysis software preferred. >  *   Detail oriented person who follows directions and meets deadlines. >  *   Ability to effectively communicate and work with people of various >      backgrounds in a team environment > > vicki.villanova@omahazoo.com > > (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to > golding@mcmaster.ca

[juniperpublishers-dentistry]

Dental Caries Prevalence and Severity among Deaf and Hearing Impaired Male Students in Eastern Saudi Arabia- Juniper Publishers

   Juniper Publishers- Open Access Journal of Dentistry & Oral Health

Dental Caries Prevalence and Severity among Deaf and Hearing Impaired Male Students in Eastern Saudi Arabia- Juniper Publishers

Authored by Hashim al-naser

Abstract

Objectives: To assess dental caries prevalence and severity in hearing-impaired (HI) and deaf adolescent male students in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 109 male students (46 HI and 63 deaf) between the ages 12-18 yrs.The students were compared with 218 control students with no hearing disabilities. Two trained examiners carried out clinical examinations to assess the prevalence of dental caries using the Decayed, Missing, Filled surfaces (DMF/S) index. Data were analyzed by age category (12-14yrs, >14-16yrs, and >16-18yrs) and by hearing disability. The DMF/S index was dichotomized at the 75th percentile to determine the severity of dental caries.

Results: More than two-thirds of the students had "Decayed” surfaces. The differences were statistically significant (P=0.003) between the HI and control groups for those 12-14 yrs of age. Twelve percent of the whole sample was caries free and 22% had severe dental caries (mean DMF/S>13).

Conclusion: Dental caries was more prevalent in the deaf and HI groups compared to the controls. Severe dental caries was more common in the deaf than in the HI. Public health efforts are needed to address the high caries prevalence.

Keywords: Dental caries; Epidemiology; Hearing loss; Deafness   

Introduction

Dental caries is the localized destruction of susceptible dental hard tissues by acidic by-products from bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates [1]. This occurs when the cariogenic microorganisms produce enzymes that decrease the pH levels below 5.5, resulting in demineralization of enamel and breakdown of hard tooth structure.

The risks of dental caries include poor oral hygiene, plaque accumulation, sugary diet, low income and education, in addition to other factors [2,3]. According to the World Health organization (WHO), in the year 2000, 68% of adults in 184 countries had less than 3 Decayed, Missed, and Filled teeth (DMFT) [4]. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of dental caries was 95% in the primary dentition with a mean DMFT of 7.34 [5,6] and around 91% in the permanent dentition with a mean DMF score of 7.35 [6,7].

Normal hearing is the ability to recognize, interoperate, and respond to the verbal, or noise stimuli by humans or animals capable of producing sounds. The term "hearing impairment” and "hearing loss” indicate that the audiometry is below the threshold for normal hearing, which is around 15dB. In cases of severe or complete loss of hearing, the term "deaf” is described. This disability can either be inherited, or acquired through time, or disease.

In developed countries, hearing impairment (HI) is considered the most common birth defect and sensorineural disorder [8]. Over 360 million people are generally affected by this disorder, 32 million (9%) of them are children. South Asian countries have the highest prevalence of hearing loss (27%), while Middle Eastern countries having the lowest (3%) [9]. Hearing loss is more common in males (56%) than in females (44%) [9].

Children with hearing disabilities experience difficulty in communicating with their oral health providers. Even more critical, not all dentists are able to treat children with special needs. This is partly due to the lack of education in dental schools on dealing with special needs groups, as well as the limited number of training programs on special needs patient [10]. Several studies have shown that children with hearing disabilities have poor oral hygiene and high levels of dental caries and periodontal disease [10,11].

Only one study assessed the dental caries prevalence among special needs children in Saudi Arabia [12]. Assessed the prevalence of dental caries in deaf, blind and mentally retarded female students in two age groups (6-7yrs, and 11-12yrs) in the city of Riyadh. The investigators reported greater caries prevalence in the special needs students than the normal controls with a DMFT of (7.35, 5.12), (6.58, 3.89), (8.00, 5.81) in the deaf, blind, and mentally retarded age groups, respectively.

Further studies are needed to determine the extent of dental caries in special needs groups in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to assess and compare dental caries prevalence and severity in HI and deaf adolescent students attending governmental schools in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia.  

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study assessed one hundred and twenty- two deaf and HI male students attending governmental schools that apply the integrated learning program in the cities of Khobar, Dammam, and Qatif. These cities were chosen to represent all levels of socioeconomic status in the region. All schools that teach deaf and HI students in the cities were included (N=7). Four of the schools teach deaf students and the other three teach HI students.

The inclusion criteria were deaf and HI male students who have no other disabilities, age range from 12-18 years old, full permanent dentition excluding third molars, and native Saudi. Subjects were excluded if they had cognitive impairment, craniofacial anomalies, or if they refused to participate. The data were collected between January and March of 2015.

The cases were compared with a randomly selected sample of control students without hearing disabilities from the same schools at a ratio of 1:2 for a total of 218 male controls. Controls were matched to the cases by age and gender. The study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Deanship of Scientific Research at the University of Dammam (IRB 2015-02-009).

Eligible students were invited to participate. Parental written consent and student verbal assent were both obtained. The parents were then asked to complete a 4-item questionnaire that included demographic information: marital status, father's and mother's educational level, socioeconomic status, and medical history. The WHO oral health questionnaire for children [13] was used to assess the perceived oral health status and behaviors in students. It is a 14-item questionnaire that elicits information about the following: Demographics (age, school level, and performance in school), perceived oral health status, oral health behaviors (i.e., brushing, flossing, use of toothpick), frequency of cariogenic food consumption, and adverse habits (i.e., smoking). Both students' and parents' questionnaires were translated into Arabic and were pilot tested on 17 students and 17 parents who were not part of the study before distribution and the items were modified accordingly.

Students then underwent intra-oral examinations to assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries on all permanent teeth surfaces using the DMF/S index. The DMF/S is composed of a "D" component for decayed, "M" component for missing, and "F" component for filled teeth surfaces. Teeth surfaces covered with preventive sealants were considered sound. The examinations were conducted using a portable dental chair, disposal mirrors, explorers (kit No.99113), gauzes, and a light source. The WHO criteria were followed for the diagnosis of dental caries in the 140 surfaces of the 28 permanent teeth [13].

Data were collected by two examiners (Q.Y and N.H.) and recorded by two others (N.D. and T.F.). Prior to data collection, both examiners and recorders underwent a period of training and calibration on the use of the DMFT/DMFS indices against a senior faculty member. Five patients who were not part of the main study were examined. The inter-examiner reliability was measured using kappa statistic and the results ranged from 0.6 to 0.8, which indicated substantial agreement. The examinations were also repeated within one week to assess intra-examiner repeatability, which was also high (0.7-0.8). All calibrations were repeated twice during the data collection period to ensure repeatability.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistics were firstly conducted for all variables using means standard deviations (SD), frequencies, and histograms. The outcome of interest was the DMF/S components. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Pearson's Chi-square test (Fisher's exact test when appropriate) for categorical variables and Analysis of Variance for continuous variables. Independent variables such as age were categorized into: 12-14yrs, >14-16yrs, and >16-18yrs. The monthly income variable was categorized into low, medium, and high income according to King Khalid Foundation's low-income cut-offs in Saudi Arabia <8,000 SR (equivalent to 2134 US dollars) [14] Differences in the mean DMF/S between the three groups were analyzed using one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's Post-Hoc test to assess differences between groups. The DMF/S index was dichotomized into (DMFS=0, DMFS>0) to compare caries free with caries present. The same variable was also cut-off at the 75th percentile to assess caries severity (DMF/S≤13, DMF/S>13). The percentage D, M, F surfaces were also calculated. The significance level was set at 5% using two tailed tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 for Windows.   

Results

A total of 122 deaf and HI students were eligible. Thirteen students were excluded for different reasons (five were mentally retarded and eight were above 18 years of age). A total of 109 students were included, 46 of them were HI and 63 were deaf. Table 1 presents the demographic characteristics of the sample. More than 48% of the students were in the >14-16 age group.

Numbers do not add up due to missing data*

The majority of the parents had low educational level. Forty percent of the families were considered below the poverty line. Around 53.3% of the fathers and 41.2% of the mothers reported having diabetes.

Table 2 shows the dental history and habits of the students. Most students rated their oral health as good. The deaf students reported the least frequency of dental visits where 40% had never visited a dentist while only 14% visited that dentist more than once a year.

Table 3 presents the mean DMF/S for the three age and disability groups. The largest component of DMF/S was the "D” in all the groups. Post hoc analyses revealed significant differences in the "D” component and the "DMF/S” (P=0.005 and P=0.003, respectively) between the HI and control groups.

Significant at the 0.05 level *

The percentage decayed, missing, and filled surfaces by age and disability are presented in Figure 1. More than 97% of the deaf and 81.8% of the HI in the 12-14 age group had decay compared to 64.9% in the controls, (ANOVA, P=0.009). The differences between the HI and controls were statistically significant (Tukey's test, P=0.005).

Significance level is 0.05*

OR=Odds Ratio; CI=Confidence Interval

Only 11.7% of the total sample was caries free, Table 4. HI students had eight times higher odds of dental caries compared to control students (OR=8.3, 95%Confidence interval [CI] 1.1-62.4, P=0.039). Severe forms of dental caries (DMF/S>13) were present in 22.3% of the sample, 34.9% of those affected by severe caries were in the deaf group, Table 5.

OR=Odds Ratio; CI=Confidence Interval   

Discussion

This is first study on caries experience and oral hygiene practices among HI and deaf male adolescents in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

The main finding of the study was the high prevalence of caries in adolescents with hearing disabilities. The prevalence of caries was affected by age, where the older age groups had more permanent teeth decayed and higher prevalence of dental caries.

The overall mean DMF/S for all participants in this study was 10.03. This is greater than the findings of (Jain et al. 2008) who demonstrated a dental caries prevalence of 36.8% with a mean DMF/S of 3.7 among Indian special needs children between the ages 5 and 22 years. It is also slightly higher than the prevalence (mean DMF/S=8.7) reported for disabled children and young Kuwaiti adults (Shyama et al. 2001). The differences between our study and the two previous studies could be due to the low education level and low awareness of dental hygiene in our sample. The sample in our study was also more homogenous than the previous studies that included subjects in different age groups.

The differences between the controls and the HI students in the 12-14 years age group were statistically significant for the "D” component and the DMF/S (P=0.005 and P=0.003, respectively). The difference was also significant for the "F” component for the same disability and age groups (P-value of 0.003). These findings are clinically significant and highlight the needs of students with hearing impairment for dental care.

In the present study, Only 11.6 % of the sample was caries free compared to 24.2% in a previous study (Shyama et al. 2001). The differences in the caries burden between our study and the other study can partly be explained by the different age, gender, and type of disability examined. Our study excluded adolescents with mental retardation compared to the earlier study.

The deaf group had the most severe dental caries among the three groups. Almost 40% of the deaf students reported never visiting a dentist before. Also, 10% of them do not brush and 88% do not floss. Those factors may explain the high DMF/S in the deaf group in comparison to the rest of the sample.

The DMF/S increased with age in the deaf, HI and control groups. This finding is consistent with earlier studies [12,15-17] as a result of the accumulation of carious lesions and the chronic nature of dental caries.

The present study provided baseline descriptive data for future comparisons. Since dental caries is a preventable disease, it is hoped that these results would help in the planning of dental prevention and restorative services targeting this group.

This study however had some limitations. It was not possible to include female participants in the study due to cultural and logistic limitations. A similar study on females is important to study gender differences. The sample in this study was over represented by low-income families. The results cannot be generalized to subjects in other income levels or in different regions. Future studies are warranted to examine the burden of caries in subjects with other disabilities. A study with larger sample size and longterm follow-up is also recommended.   

Conclusion

Dental caries was more prevalent in the deaf and HI groups compared to the controls. More severe forms of the disease were more common in the deaf (34.9%) than in the HI (30.4) and controls (16.8%). The prevalence of dental caries increased with age in all the groups. Public health efforts are needed to address the high caries prevalence.

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[lovemychinchilla]

A Beginner's Guide to Chinchilla Hay Pellets

Chinchillas are fed pellets alongside their fresh hay. But what are hay pellets, and what do they have in them? Do chinchillas really need them, and if so, why?

What are hay pellets? Hay pellets are compacted hay, often with bulking ingredients added, that form a core part of a chinchilla's diet. They are typically made from timothy hay or alfalfa and look like tiny strips of bran. Your chinchilla needs 1-2 tbsp per day but they can be fed in unlimited amounts as chinchillas self-regulate hay intake. There are many brands available including Oxbow, Mazuri, Tradition, Science Selective, Manna Pro, Purina and more; most are roughly equivalent without much variety in quality.

The guide below covers everything you need to know about chinchilla hay pellets. First it looks at what hay pellets are made from and how they're made, before detailing what they contain (fillers, different kinds of hay, supplements and more). We'll also look at the different brands of chinchilla hay pellets to see which is best.

What Are Hay Pellets (& Do Chinchillas Need Them?)

Hay pellets are made from compacted fresh hay. They are made from hays that you would normally feed your pet fresh, such as timothy hay and alfalfa. They can also contain a combination of hays to provide a nutritionally rounded or complete diet.

They look like bran and are a common kind of feed for small pets like chinchillas. They aren't intended to replace hay, but to be fed alongside it, so you have more control over your pet's diet. Some owners feed one or two tablespoons per day, while others allow their chins to have as many as they like (an unlimited supply).

You can buy them from pet stores, from feed stores, or online. They come in large bags and you can buy them in bulk. They're cheap, and there are lots of brands available to choose from, most of which are roughly the same. Almost all chinchilla owners feed their pets one kind of chinchilla pellet or other.

Why Do Chinchillas Need Hay Pellets?

Chinchillas don't strictly need hay pellets. Pellets are, after all, only made of hay. Your pet can get all the hay it needs from eating fresh hay, and some owners do keep their pets on a fresh-hay-only diet. But pellets are useful in several ways:

They are tightly compacted, so give your chinchilla more energy and nutrients with less time spent eating

Pellets can be made of more than one kind of hay to provide a complete nutritional balance; they can also be supplemented with macronutrients or micronutrients

Pellets are easier to store, and to store for longer, than fresh hay

They offer a small amount of variety without compromising the nutritional balance in your chinchilla's overall diet

Because of these factors, almost every experienced owner recommends feeding a chinchilla pellets. They're used by owners new and old, chinchilla ranches, and even scientists studying chinchillas in the lab. You should use them too.

How Are Hay Pellets Made?

Hay pellets are made from regular hay, so that's what this process starts with. They're first cured (dried) in the sun, before being ground down. They are ground down in industrial-sized mills, of which there are many kinds: hammer mills, ball mills, roller mills, die mills and more. The mill chosen will affect the consistency of the final product. After being ground down, the hay is formed into a cable which is chopped by a large knife. You can see these knife marks on the finished product.

The pelleting process heats up the hay because of friction. Big operations therefore use large coolers to cool down the pellets before packaging. These stop the heat from, essentially, cooking the hay and changing its nutritional makeup. The pellets are then bagged for sale.

Hay cubes are made in the same way. The only difference is that hay pellets are ground down to a finer consistency and are, of course, formed into a different final shape.

Do You Have to Soak Hay Pellets?

You would have to soak hay pellets if you wanted to eat them, but you don't have to do that for your chinchilla.

Chinchillas don't have mouths and teeth that are the same as ours. They have big front teeth that are perfect for breaking up pellets, and thick molars that are good at breaking them down.

What's more, rodents have rootless teeth. This means that their teeth constantly grow, and need to be ground down on rough surfaces, or else they'll grow too long. That's why chinchillas need chew toys. While some owners disagree, it stands to reason that chewing on tough and fibrous foods would help rather than hinder here.

The reason for the confusion is that other animals that eat hay pellets may need to have them soaked beforehand. Also, this doesn't mean that a chin won't eat damp or wet pellets; they will. It's just that they don't need to be soaked.

What's The Difference Between Pellets & Fresh Hay?

Pellets and fresh hay are both made of hay. But depending on which you pick and how you feed them, they can serve different roles.

One key difference is that pellets are more tightly compacted. They allow your chinchiilla to meet its nutritional needs quicker. They may also have different nutritional values, like if you feed fresh timothy hay with alfalfa pellets.

Many experienced owners and breeders feed their chinchillas nothing but pellets. Scientists who conduct experiments on chinchillas do the same thing. That's because pellets are cheaper to source, stay fresh for longer, and it's known exactly what nutritional value they contain.

Will your chinchilla just eat pellets, not fresh hay? While you could likely feed your pet on nothing but pellets, we recommend a mix of fresh and pelleted hay for optimal health. Chinchillas also enjoy variety, even if they don't strictly need it, and will be happy to have a choice between foods.

What Do Hay Pellets Contain?

High quality hay pellets contain nothing but hay. But there are pellets that contain only one kind of hay, and those that contain several kinds of hay. There are also fillers, additives and supplements to consider.

Alfalfa Pellets vs. Timothy Hay Pellets vs. Bermuda Hay Pellets

Hay pellets can be made from many different kinds of hay. The kind chosen will determine the nutritional content of the finished product.

The most common is timothy hay. Timothy hay is the most common fresh hay that owners use, so it stands to reason that it makes a good pellet, too. Timothy hay contains the correct levels of each macronutrient (carbs/fiber, protein, fat and water) that chins need.

Alfalfa pellets are perhaps the next-most common. Alfalfa is a sweeter hay than timothy hay, and has around twice the protein. This isn't a major issue as chinchillas need a reasonable amount of protein in their diets. The only issue with alfalfa is that it contains lots of calcium. A buildup of calcium can cause bladder stones in chinchillas.

Bermuda hay is roughly equivalent to timothy hay in terms of its nutrients. It's commonly fed as a fresh hay, and some companies sell it as a pellet hay. You can make any hay into a pellet, including orchard grass hay, meadow hay and more. So long as you buy from a reputable brand and are certain that the product is what it says it is, any pelleted hay is suitable for your pet.

Hay Pellet Fillers

Hay pellets may contain things other than the hay they're labelled as containing. This can either be done on purpose, to bulk out the hay, or by accident (e.g. if there were weeds/other plants in the field when the hay was harvested). Meadow hay, for example, is supposed to contain weeds and random flowers. These add variety and new tastes that make the hay palatable.

Fillers are added on purpose to make the pellets cheaper, but can make a food less nutritious. They aren't commonly seen in branded products which like to proudly proclaim that they have no added ingredients. Examples of potential filler ingredients include:

Soy meal. Soy meal is a very common fodder ingredient, and is even used to bulk out human food. It's a byproduct of using soy to make other, more palatable, products. It's very high in protein (45g per 100g) so can make a timothy hay pellet closer to what a chinchilla needs.

Wheat. Wheat is another cheap bulking ingredient, but it's higher in carbohydrates than protein.

Millet. Millets are a broad family of grasses grown for fodder.

Oils, e.g. flax. Oils give a pellet greater fat content.

If you're worried about additives and fillers, check the ingredients list and/or contact the manufacturer. Bear in mind that some fillers like soy meal can make a product closer to what chinchillas need; chinchillas, especially younger ones, thrive on a higher-protein diet and soy meal helps with that. You therefore shouldn't strictly avoid pellets with fillers and added ingredients, but do your research, and see how appropriate they would be for your pet.

What you should avoid are any pellets that have nuts, seeds or dried fruit added. These mixes are similar to those you give to other animals, but they aren't suitable for chinchillas. That's because nuts and seeds are too high in fat, and dried fruits or vegetables are too high in fructose. Plus if you feed your pet one of these mixes, it will eat all the added bits and leave its hay.

Are There Supplements in Hay Pellets?

Pellets aren't typically supplemented with particular vitamins and minerals. That's because hay has everything chinchillas need already. If a manufacturer wants to ensure that their pellet has the right amount of calcium, for example, they wouldn't add powdered calcium to the mix. Instead, they would blend alfalfa (high in calcium) with timothy hay to give the desired effect.

How Much Hay Pellets Do Chinchillas Need?

Owners generally recommend feeding one to two tablespoons of hay pellets per day. These are served in a bowl in the morning, and the chinchilla can eat them at its leisure. It should spend its time alternately eating the pellets and fresh hay, depending what it's in the mood for. As for how many pellets do chinchillas need, that depends; that's because pellets vary in size. You're better off weighing the pellets rather than counting them out (which even if it was the better option, would take just about forever!)

How Often Should You Give Chinchillas Pellets?

Chinchillas should have hay pellets every day. You can feed them at any time of day, so long as your chinchilla always has some available. Alternatively, you could feed a double portion once every other day. This will mean your chin still gets the same amount of pellets, but you don't have to feed them as often.

Some owners say that you can feed unlimited amounts of pellets. This is an option since they're made from regular hay, so even if your chin chose to eat only pellets and no fresh hay, that wouldn't be a problem.

How Do You Feed a Chinchilla Pellets?

Chinchillas should have hay racks for their fresh hay and a small bowl for their pellets. They can then eat from the bowl at their leisure. You place a suitable amount (two tablespoons) in your chinchilla's bowl each morning.

You can hand feed a chinchilla small amounts of food if you like. But chinchillas spend most of their time eating, and eat most of their food at night when they're active. Hand feeding your chinchilla all of its food therefore isn't possible.

Can You Give a Chinchilla Unlimited Pellets?

The idea of feeding unlimited food to a chinchilla isn't a new one. Your chinchilla should already be getting an unlimited supply of fresh hay from which it can eat as much as it likes. Many owners recommend feeding unlimited amounts of both fresh hay and pelleted hay.

Can Chinchillas Self-Regulate Food Intake?

If you ask why owners give their chinchillas unlimited amounts of either fresh hay or pellets, they'll tell you it's because chinchillas can regulate the amount they eat. This is at least partially true, depending on your perspective.

What's definitely true is that chinchillas don't get fat if you give them unlimited fresh or pelleted hay. That's because chinchillas are grazing animals: they forage for food most of the time they're awake. Because they eat hays (or, in the wild, grasses) they have to eat constantly to get enough energy to survive. It's for this reason that chinchillas have strange sleep schedules: they nap for ten to fifteen minutes at a time throughout the day and night so they can get up to get more food.

On top of that, hay is a tough and fibrous food. So on top of having to eat lots of it throughout the day, chins have to chew, chew, and chew some more to even eat it in the first place. This means that there aren't enough hours in the day for a chin to gain weight from eating hay or pellets.

What chinchillas can't do is eat calorific snacks like nuts and seeds. If you gave your chinchilla unlimited cashews, for example, it would eat far too many and get overweight. Chinchillas aren't masters of self control, it's just that hay is tough to eat.

  Which Chinchilla Hay Pellet Brand Is Best?

There are many brands of hay pellets available. Most have roughly the same ingredients and nutritional content. There are some that owners commonly use, and which can be found in almost any pet store. Our guide below looks at three of the most common, assesses their ingredients and nutritional contents, and recommends which of them you should use.

Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Food

What I like about Oxbow's chinchilla pellets is that they're clear about what's in them, and the nutritional value of their product. The ingredients list is admittedly long, as these pellets include...

Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Salt, Lignin Sulfonate, Cane Molasses, L-Ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate (Vitamin C), Limestone, Yeast Culture (dehydrated), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

But on the front of the packet, underneath these ingredients, it states that the pellets 'guaranteed' to contain:

Crude Protein (min) 18.00% Crude Fat (min) 2.50% Crude Fibre (min) 18.00% (max) 23.00% Moisture (max) 10.00% Calcium (min) 0.60%, (max) 1.10% Phosphorus (min) 0.25%

This falls roughly within the range of what chinchillas need, so even if it does contain added ingredients like soybean meal and salt, that's not a problem.

Mazuri Chinchilla Pellets

Mazuri pellets are roughly similar to Oxbow Essentials pellets. Here's a list of the ingredients you can find in them. Let's take a look at what they contain, and what's different to what you'll find in Oxbow (different core ingredients are highlighted):

Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Timothy Hay, Ground Oats, Ground Soybean Hulls, Wheat Germ, Dried Beet Pulp, Cane Molasses, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Soybean Oil, Dried Whey, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Magnesium Oxide, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Form of Vitamin E), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yeast Culture, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Oxide, Nicotinic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.

The most important differences are that Mazuri pellets contain a mixture of alfalfa meal, timothy hay and ground oats. Oxbow, by contrast, only have alfalfa meal and fillers like soybean hulls and soybean meal. That doesn't mean that Mazuri pellets are significantly better, but these slight differences in ingredients and the levels of each they contain mean that the guaranteed nutrients in Mazuri are slightly different to those in Oxbow:

Crude Protein 20.0% min Crude Fat 3.0% min Crude Fiber 18.0% min Moisture 12.0% max Ash 8.5% max Calcium 0.75% min Calcium 1.25% max Phosphorus 0.60% min Vitamin E 175 IU/kg min Ascorbic Acid 100 mg/kg max Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.50% min

Science Selective Chinchilla Pellets

Last but not least, Science Selective has a few different ingredients to the two listed above. The fact that it contains fewer ingredients may appeal to you. It contains:

Lucerne meal (alfalfa), soya hulls, wheat, soybean meal, wheat feed, extruded locust beans, dried parsley, dried plantain, linseed, monocalcium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate. May contain genetically modified soya. Additives: Vitamin A 15000IU/kg, Vitamin D3 1500IU/kg, Ferrous sulphate monohydrate 152mg/kg, Calcium iodate anhydrous 1.5mg/kg, Copper sulphate pentahydrate 20mg/kg, Manganese oxide 38mg/kg, Zinc oxide 62 mg, Sodium selenite 0.2mg/kg.

Despite having different ingredients, though, Science Selective pellets contain roughly the same nutrients as the other two brands. This is roughly what scientists think is most suitable for chinchillas, so it's little wonder that they all have roughly the same nutrients. These pellets contain:

Crude Protein 16% Crude Fat 3.0% Crude Fiber 19% Inorganic Matter 7.0% Calcium 0.8% Phosphorus 0.4%

Which Pellets Should You Buy for a Chinchilla?

Truth be told, any of the three brands above would be suitable for your pet. Their nutritional contents were determined through scientific study, which means you can be as sure as it's possible to be that they provide your pet with what it needs. We recommend trying different brands to see which your chinchilla prefers, as some if not most chinchillas are picky, fussy creatures that inexplicably prefer one to the other despite them being basically the same!

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

#chinchillas #chinchillanutrition

[speculative-evolution]

SOURCE

A mother Orcwaul carefully keeps an eye out for danger as her two four-month-old pups romp in the meadow, weaving in and out of her immense shadow. With a mother as strong and attentive as theirs, they know they're safe to run and play without any worry about predators causing them any harm - there are very few stronger than an adult of their own species, and none so dumb as to try and get past their gargantuan guardian. Orcwauls, Mortevescus cynocephalus, are the largest living predatory theropodents, with females often surpassing 7 meters, or 22 feet, in length and weighing as much as 1,800 pounds (males are generally slightly lighter in build, averaging about 1,400 pounds, but may be equally long). Highly intelligent and cunning hunters, they live in female-dominated hierarchies and are one of only a few strictly monogamous rodents in the world. While the Orguar, stealthy and solitary, is the ecological equivalent of the big cat, the Orcwaul is a closer analogue to modern day wolves and hunting dogs; cursorial, highly social, and relentless. Orcwauls are ideally-adapted to long-distance pursuit of prey species and have excellent endurance, able to run at a steady clip for hours at a time to wear down their victims with the coordinated, cooperative efforts of many individuals. Orcwaul's have long and powerful legs and run on the very tips of only the two specialized center toes upon each foot, with the inner dewclaw high on the ankle and completely vestigial and the outer dew claw, also permanently raised, rapidly becoming so. This specialization is a direct adaptation to running for speed and is in direct contrast to the four-toed talons of the orguar, which often brings down its prey with the help of a well-placed kick but is subsequently a poor runner for more than a few hundred yards and tires quickly. Orcwauls use their jaws and their jaws alone to kill their food, jaws which are elongated, thick-set, and relatively squared-of, with the specialized, serrated incisors common to all tyrannorats and a long series of shearing molar teeth, and their atrophied arms are little more than a single claw partially hidden in their fur. Though there is a degree of habitat overlap, Orguars are most common in the dry, cold, southern temperate and boreal forests of Andromere while Orcwauls are most at home on the more open, wetter grasslands and sparse woodlands of milder northern regions. Their fur is less dense, shorter, and more bristled than their relative, and their lower legs as well as most of their tails are almost entirely nude as adults, adaptations to prevent overheating or the collection of excess moisture against the skin in warm and humid environments. Orcwuals rarely do well in very dry climates and are absent from all environments north of the Andromeran mountains and throughout the Admantian scrublands to their south, but conversely do very well in warm and wet environments where most tyrannorats avoid, including floodplains and seasonal swamps, and occur with an enormous range across the northern continent from Elsaera to Atroxus. Populations along the shores of Lake Holbenia and Lake Michael in central Andromere could be considered so well adapted to a marsh environment that they are seasonally semi-aquatic, pursuing most of their food in the water, propelled by strong kicks of their hind limbs and side-to-side pumps of their strong tails. Across their large range as many as fifteen subspecies are known to occur, varying in both size and coloration across the gold to brown to red to gray spectrums, with some southern populations being predominately melanistic. Albinism, or more often leucism, is fairly common, with tales of the elusive white, or spirit, rat squeezing their way into the forklore of many local cultures. Some populations exhibit bold white contrast markings on their tails, chests, and snouts possibly used to easily spot on another at a distance, though the majority are relatively subdued with gray and tawny markings and faint spotting or striping on the flanks and up the neck. The tail is usually bald from its base to its tip, where a feathery plume of hair, usually white in color, occurs. Orcwauls are usually very good parents, and a pack's priority at all times of the year is the protection and provisioning of its pups. Among yearlings and adults competition to eat is fierce, but young are given utmost priority and a sort of special privilege, filling up on the choicest cuts of the prey before the adults even touch the carcass. When born, they are blind, deaf, and helpless and confined to a secluded nest, but within only a few weeks their eyes and ears will open and they begin to try their legs, waddling first awkwardly but quickly developing stamina and strength to walk and then to run alongside the adults. Orcwauls are born with prominent loose skin and silver manes along their necks and down their backs with gradually diminish by the time they're six months old, utilized by the adults to grasp and carry the very young pups without injuring them and then as a sort of quick marker which tells the adults that they are very young, permitting them much greater tolerance to disorderly conduct and aggressive play that will not be tolerated as they grow larger. In direct contrast to the one of the Orcwaul's earthly analogues, the African lion, this feature is an effective signal which brings out parental instincts even to unrelated adults. In the event two packs merge, or a new male or female joins an established group, it does not make any attempt to harm the present pups as do lions when taking over a pride. This is likely a result of the orcwaul's unique social structure, different from both wolves and lions, where there is no established dominant individual. Females are stronger than males and by default take more food, but a single pack usually consists of one or several older pairs and several generations of their daughters and unrelated males who join the group from other packs at maturity, all of whom may breed and assist in rearing each other's young, the female of which will stay for life and the males whom will be driven out at sexual maturity around age four to join new groups, preventing in-breeding. Since Orcwauls very rarely mate outside their pair bonds, it's possible that the suppression of lower-ranking individuals' reproduction which is seen in wolves is simply unnecessary, and since a pack is multi-generational, rather than a single group of females mated by one male (as in lions), that aggression towards unrelated young serves no purpose. The pups in the pack are dependent on the adults for several years before becoming competent hunters but suckle for a relatively short period of only three weeks before weaning to animal foods, first in the form of regurgitated slurry. Once their teeth come in, they are weaned first onto small pre-chewed portions of meat carried to the nest before graduating to cutting their own bites directly from the carcass as they run along after their families while they hunt, kept out of harm's way by one or two nannies who stay back from the action to keep the young safe. The young are incredibly playful, wrestling and mock-hunting one another almost constantly for the first year of their lives, a process which gradually gives way to the first attempts at real hunting around this time when their parents may begin to allow them to follow along on hunts. During this training period, which lasts until the animals are two years old at least, they will often make an effort to target smaller animals they would normally ignore and intentionally only wound but not dispatch their prey, allowing the pups to finish the job, which may be a prolonged process if they are slow learners. Usually, the first few victims succumb only to blood loss or shock: death by a thousand cuts, until the young master the adults' quickly debilitating throat bite. Generally an orcwaul is a competent killer of these smaller animals by age two, halfway before it reaches its full mature size and girth, but even so these young training graduates generally don't get to make the killing move against larger prey for some time, serving instead to flush it, with their greater agility, into the waiting jaws of the stronger mature individuals of the pack who then proceed to take it down. By combining the efforts of different age groups, a single pack of orcwauls can make use of a much wider variety of prey types than any single individual could alone, allowing them to survive in so wide a variety of habitats. As the adolescent grows, it gradually learns to manage larger and larger prey. A single adult female orcwaul can, with some effort, disable an animal as large as a moose. As a pack of five to fifteen, there are no terrestrial animals - save for perhaps the Olympian lumberjack - entirely beyond their capabilities, though it is very rare for them to take down an animal as large as a mature quailephant, a feat usually limited only to the even more immense sabre-billed bearbird. The largest terrestrial predator in the northern hemisphere, this flightless swiftlet, the epitome of a megafauna-hunting specialist, can stand up to thirty feet tall and weigh an impressive six tons. With few other active predators of comparable size and ferocity in their habitat - even large bearbirds do not readily contest orcwaul packs - an orcwaul pup under the watch of a pack of adults is almost completely safe from predators, but a variety of opportunists may take an unguarded young individual if the chance ever arises, including griffons, bristlebacks, and other tyrannorats. Adults, far too large to worry about these, fear only the cunning of the lucknoun and sometimes the skystrider - the only two creatures intelligent enough to take down one of Sheatheria's most powerful apex predators. ~~~ While the Orguar roars powerfully with a voice deep enough enough to visibly shake the forest around and be felt through the soil for many miles, the Orcwaul cannot roar at all; rather, it barks, growls, and whines, like an enormous dog. Needing to communicate with one another much more, their repertoire is large and varied, and though they don't roar, they communicate over long distances with very deep and prolonged howls, similar to those used by wolves but several octaves lower. When a pack of a dozen orcwauls gather and raise their heads to the heavens to belt out their eerie song all at once in the night, silencing the trills of countless frogs, birds, and crickets and traveling for miles in the still air, there is no more powerful, bone-chilling sound in the world, be it this one or the one we know. The Orcwaul, fierce, stately, intelligent, and powerful, is truly one of the most majestic of all the worlds' creatures. However, this is definitely not true of its nearest relative - one of the superficially most hideous, frightful, and unappealing of all the theropodents...

[ezatluba]

Floppy-eared rabbits left deaf and in pain by intensive breeding

Henry Bodkin

1 OCTOBER 2019 

Owning floppy-eared rabbits is cruel because the intensively bred animals are likely to be deaf and in pain, the Royal Veterinary College has warned.

In a new study, scientists have proved that floppy or lop-eared breeds suffer from reduced airflow and a build-up of earwax, with the altered head shape also causing dental pain and eating difficulties.

It follows numerous warnings about the cruelty of designer dog breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs.

Charles Darwin first noted how artificial selection for rabbits with “pendulous” ears was leading to altered skull shapes.

However, the new research is the first to prove conclusively that the breeding preference causes suffering, following years of anecdotal warnings by vets.

Lop-eared breeds are estimated to comprise more than half of rabbits owned as domestic pets in the UK.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has now urged potential owners to “think health over looks” when choosing an animal.

Published in Vet Record, the study compared 15 lop-eared rabbits of various breeds to 15 erect eared rabbits in a rescue centre.

Researchers found that those with floppy ears were 43 times more likely to have narrowed ear canals and 15 times more likely to be exhibiting pain.

Meanwhile the altered head shape of lops can also affect jaw and teeth alignment, potentially causing tooth overgrowth, pain, and eating difficulties.

Health records showed that half of them - eight out of 15 - had dental abnormalities, and six had needed dental treatment, compared with none of the erect erect eared rabbits.

Daniella Dos Santos, BVA President, said: “As well as being likely to suffer from ear and dental problems, lop-eared rabbits are also at increased risk of injury and prone to obesity, as for some, the length of their ears can restrict their movement.

“Sadly, vets tell us that all too often they’re seeing clients who have chosen a pet with certain features without being aware of the serious health and welfare problems they may have as a result.”

In the 19th Century it was common practice for breeders to select rabbits with an over-sized floppy ear on only one side of the skull, a so-called “half-flop”.

The practice fascinated Darwin after he observed that the skull morphology on the side without the large ear was normal, but deformed on other.

The observation helped form his phenotypic accommodation theory, which argued that animal traits have the flexibility to change when the organism is exposed to unusual pressure during development.

Conducted by experts at the Royal Veterinary College, the study found ear wax build-up in the medical records of 14 of them, and repeated ear cleaning in nine.

The equivalent figures for erect eared rabbits were three and none.

The lops were also 23 times more likely to have diseased incisor teeth, 12 times more likely to have overgrown molar teeth, and 13 times more likely to have sharp molars.

Ms Dos Santos added: “It’s critical that prospective owners think ‘health over looks’ when choosing a pet, as extreme features may come hand in hand with hereditary problems that can lead to serious health problems and be distressing and costly to treat.”

[drangsaldrangsal]

Gum Disease May Be Linked to Later Dementia

Severe gum disease may be linked to mild cognitive impairment and dementia two decades later, according to a new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“We looked at people’s dental health over a 20-year period and found that people with the most severe gum disease at the start of our study had about twice the risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia by the end,” said study author Ryan T. Demmer, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis.

“However, the good news was that people with minimal tooth loss and mild gum disease were no more likely to develop thinking problems or dementia than people with no dental problems.”

The research involved 8,275 people with an average age of 63 who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. The subjects were evaluated for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Participants received a full periodontal exam that included measuring gum probing depth, amount of bleeding and recession.

Next, participants were grouped based on the severity and extent of their gum disease and number of lost teeth, with implants counting as lost teeth. At the start of the study, 22% had no gum disease, 12% had mild gum disease, 12% had severe gum inflammation, 8% had some tooth loss, 12% had disease in their molars, 11% had severe tooth loss, 6% had severe gum disease, and 20% had no teeth at all.

A total of 4,559 participants were evaluated at the end of the study, when they had been tracked for an average of 18 years.

Overall, 1,569 people, or 19%, developed dementia during the study. This was the equivalent of 11.8 cases per every 1,000 person-years. Among the people with healthy gums and all their teeth at the start of the study, 264 out of 1,826, or 14%, developed dementia by the end of the study. For those with mild gum disease, 623 out of 3,470, or 18%, developed dementia. For participants with severe gum disease, 306 out of 1,368, or 22%, developed dementia. And 376 out of 1,611, or 23%, developed dementia in the group that had no teeth. This was equal to a rate of 16.9 cases per 1,000 person-years.

When looking at both mild cognitive impairment and dementia, the group with no teeth had about twice the risk compared to subjects with healthy gums and all their teeth. Those with intermediate or severe gum disease, but who still had some teeth, had a 20% greater risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia compared to the healthy group. These risks were after researchers accounted for other factors that could affect dementia risk, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking.

“Good dental hygiene is a proven way to keep healthy teeth and gums throughout your lifetime. Our study does not prove that an unhealthy mouth causes dementia and only shows an association. Further study is needed to demonstrate the link between microbes in your mouth and dementia, and to understand if treatment for gum disease can prevent dementia,” Demmer said.

One limitation of the study was that initial gum exams were conducted when the participants were an average age of 63, and it is possible that cognitive decline might have been begun before the start of gum disease and tooth loss.

Source: American Academy of Neurology

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[siva3155]

[2019 MOST ASKED] JNTUH JNTU-KAKINADA LAB MANUALS

LAB MANUALS for Engineering :-

CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB VIVA Questions pdf:-

AUTOCAD Highway Engineering STRENGTH OF MATERIALS Environmental Engineering Estimating & Costing Engineering Mechanics Hydraulics Building Construction and Materials SURVEYING Soil Mechanics and Foundation PAVEMENT DESIGN Concrete Technology Railway Engineering Water Resources Engineering SOIL MECHANICS Transportation Engineering ENGINEERING GRAPHICS ENGINEERING DRAWING ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

Mechanical Engineering VIVA Questions with Answers pdf:-

1.Fluid Mechanics 2.Thermal engineering 3.Thermodynamics 4.I.C Engines 5.Nuclear Power Plants 6.Steam Boilers, Engines, Nozzles and Turbines 7.Compressors,Gas Turbines & Jet Engines  8.Heat Transfer 9.Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 10.Measurements and Instrumentations 11.Machine Design 12.Theory of Machines 13.Hydraulic Mechanics 14.Workshop Technology  15.PLC  16. MMM 17. MMT

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Engineering Chemistry LAB VIVA Questions :-

What are Hard waters? How are the waters classified based on the degree of Hardness? How is hardness of water caused? How is temporary hardness be removed? How do you express the total hardness of water? What is EDTA? Write the structural formula for EDTA. Why is disodium salt of EDTA preferred to EDTA? Why is Ammonia solution added while preparing EDTA solution? What is buffer solution? Why is ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer added? Why is the indicator Eriochrome Black(EBT) shows wine red color at the beginning and blue color at the end? Why are the titration involving EDTA carried out slowly towards the end point? What is the application of hardness date in environmental engineering practice? What are the constituents of cements? What is the prime constituents of cement? Why is the role of glycerol & NaoH? What is the function of diethyl amine? Why is Eriochrome Black T indicator cannot be used in this experiment? Which is the indicator used in the determination of CaO I cement solution? What are constituents of Brass? How is brass solution prepared? What is the purpose of adding urea? Why is ammonium hydroxide added to the brass solution? What is the bluish white precipitate formed after adding ammonia solution? Why is acetic acid added? How is librated iodine estimated? What is the reaction that occurs between iodine and sodium thiosulphate? Why is starch indicator added towards the end point? What is the white precipitate produced at the end of point? What is the min constitutes of haematite ore? Give the others form of iron ore. What is the role of stannous chloride? Why is mercuric chloride added? What happens when the excess of stannous chloride is not removed What is the indicator used? Why is the color of the indicator drop remains the same at the end point? What is the reaction that occurs during the titration? What is weak acid? What is pKa of acid? What is meant by pH of a solution? What is modern definition(IUPAC) of pH? Why is glass electrode called an ion selective electrode? How is measurement of pH made? How are pH and pKa related? How is the measurement of pH made? How are pH and pKa related? How are pKa and strength of a weak acid related? What are the electrodes used in the measurement of pH for the determination of pKa? Why is pH increases suddenly after the equivalence point? What is chemical oxygen demand? What general group of organic compounds are not oxidesied in the COD test? What is the role of silver sulphate? What is the role of mercuric sulphate? What are the products formed after COD analysis? Why is sulphuric acid added during the preparation of standard FAS solution? What is the composition of ferroin? Mention a few application of COD test in environmental engineering practice. What is the limitation of COD? What is a potentiometer titration? Give the principle of potentiometer titration. What are the electrodes used in potentiometer titration? What is determining factor in the oxidation reduction reaction? What is an indicator electrode? What is the reaction that occurring between FAS and potassium dichromate? What are the advantages of potentiometric titration? What is Colorimetry? What forms the basis for colorimetric determination? What is photoelectric colorimeter? What are filters? Why are they used? What is wave length? What is frequency? What is wave number? State Beer’s law. State Lambert’s law. State Beer-Lambert’s law. What is calibration curve? What is meant by transmittance? Mention a few important criteria for satisfactory colorimetric analysis. Mention a few advantages of photoelectric colorimetric determination. What is Blank solution? Why is ammonia added? Why is that same amount of ammonia added? Why is estimation of copper done at 620 nm wave length? State ohm’s law. What is conductance? What is the unit of conductance? Mention the different types of conductivities. Which of the above conductivity measured during conductometric titration? What is specific conductivity? What is equivalent conductivity? What is molar conductivity? What is a cell? What is the principle involved in conductometric titration? How is the accuracy of the method determined? What are the advantages of conductometric titration over visual or potentiometric titration? What is viscosity? What is viscosity-coefficient of a liquid? What is density of a liquid? What is specific gravity? How are specific gravity and density related? What is SI unit of viscosity-coefficient? What are the factors that affect the viscosity of a liquid? How does the viscosity vary with temperature? Why is acetone used for cleaning viscometer? Why do you require laboratory temperature for viscosity determination? How is the viscosity of liquid related to its mobility? What is fluidity of a liquid?

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EDC EMBEDDED MPMC DIP MICROWAVE DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS AND INSTUMENTATION VLSI

IT VIVA Questions :-

Computer Graphics COMPILER DESIGN  OOPS DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS JAVA PROGRAMMING Read the full article

[evoldir]

Fwd: Job: OmahaZoo.LabTech.GeneticsDiagnostic

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Job: OmahaZoo.LabTech.GeneticsDiagnostic > Date: 10 September 2022 at 05:18:48 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > > Job Title: Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory Technician > > Apply here: > https://ift.tt/qoHfK37 > > Hours: Full-time > > Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to): > >  *   Assist in care, maintenance, and utilization of department >      equipment and supplies. >  *   Execute lab procedures and required tasks under supervision and >      independently. >  *   Prepare solutions and media for molecular biology applications. >  *   Maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the laboratory while >      following all safety procedures. >  *   Prepare standard operating procedures for molecular >      diagnostic tests. >  *   Liaise with vet and animal care staff on sample collection. >  *   Perform DNA extractions using various methodologies. >  *   Quantitate DNA with fluorometer and qPCR. >  *   Conduct various molecular diagnostic tests with PCR for animal >      diseases as needed, including testing trunk washes, feces, and >      blood for the presence of EEHV on a routine basis. >  *   Responsible for troubleshooting and resolving problems regarding >      essential laboratory equipment. >  *   Compile detailed and accurate documentation of all testing >      conducted. >  *   Prepare and analyze data and report on results of molecular tests >      to department director, veterinarian staff and relevant zoo >      departments. > > Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: > >  *   A bachelor's degree in biology, genetics, or related field and one >      year of associated work experience is required. An equivalent >      combination of further education and experience from which >      comparable knowledge and experience may be considered. >  *   A thorough knowledge of molecular genetics and related techniques >      with a good understanding of biology and chemistry is required. >      Experience with qPCR is highly preferred. >  *   Ability to understand and follow lab protocols and standard >      operating procedures. >  *   Clear understanding of the metric system as well as conversion >      between various weight measures, and chemical calculations (e.g., >      molarities and pH). >  *   Knowledge of basic computer programs is imperative with >      familiarity of QuantStudio design and analysis software preferred. >  *   Detail oriented person who follows directions and meets deadlines. >  *   Ability to effectively communicate and work with people of various >      backgrounds in a team environment > > vicki.villanova@omahazoo.com > > (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to > golding@mcmaster.ca

[abrirnegocioeua]

The Advantages of What Is a Mole Chemistry

The What Is a Mole Chemistry Cover Up

Some notion of its magnitude is provided by the next calculation. The technique utilizes conversion factors that are created from equalities between units. Unfortunately, there aren’t any measuring devices that provide readings in moles.

What Is a Mole Chemistry Features

This number is known as AVOGADRO’S NUMBER. The important issue is that IUPAC doesn’t have a recognised symbol for a single entity. same day essay reviews This representation lets you identify a particular isotope of an element.

Within the next tutorial, I’ll talk about how to use moles in calculations. The mole concept is a handy way of expressing the sum of a substance. Just spend the article about acetate.

Mass of every elements expressed regarding atomic mass unit is known as relative atomic mass. Actually, the very same element our prehistoric ancestors burned as charcoal might be the secret to next-generation tech materials. The factor-label technique is also quite beneficial in converting non-metric units into metric units.

By exactly the same token, the ratios we constructed in Chapter 5, may also be constructed with regard to moles as an alternative to molecules. Atoms and molecules are so tiny they will need to get counted in rather huge quantities as a way to lead to a workable number. Atoms, molecules and formula units are extremely little and very hard to work with usually.

http://tobaccofree.yale.edu/

Essentially, you’ve just performed stoichiometry, among the fundamental elements of chemistry. Several of these reactions are related to functional groups. The line-angle formula is easy and unambiguous.

The Debate Over What Is a Mole Chemistry

The equivalence point may not be determined experimentally. This has the benefit of simplicity. Nowadays you’ve got to make a decision.

Since the quantity of nodes isn 1, the energy may also be said to be based on the variety of nodes, generally increasing as the amount of nodes increases. It’s convenient to have a distinctive unit for describing such large quantities of objects. Utilize log tables, if needed.

Practice Mock test papersTime is merely among the most critical things in NEET Exam. It is essential that you watch every Answer. Have they work in pairs to complete the table, and then go over the answers with the class.

New do my essay Ideas Into What Is a Mole Chemistry Never Before Revealed

Actually, their eyes are not simple to find since they’re tiny and covered in fur. It can be hard to wrap your head around a number that big. Carbon’s incredible ability to bond with many different elements is a significant reason it is vital to almost all life.

This conversion enables the chemist to weigh out just the right quantity of sodium and chlorine to produce sure the reaction between both elements goes to completion. Non-ideal behavior for a gas is the most inclined to be observed under states of a. high temperature and very low pressure. The perfect gas law may also be utilized in stoichiometry troubles.

Students develop an awareness of the mole as a simple counting unit in chemistry used to keep an eye on the quantity of atoms present in matter. Stoichiometry is among the most crucial topics on the AP Chemistry exam, therefore it’s crucial that you understand it and all its applications. Stoichiometry Stoichiometry is just the math behind chemistry.

The unexpected procedure is so typical in electrochemistry that it’s been given the name overpotential. There’s no restriction on just what the compound is so the other answer is totally wrong on this. After you deeply understand that you begin gaining control over it.

What Is a Mole Chemistry Explained

Since gases occupy the whole space readily available to them, which means gas volume usually means the amount of the container where the gas is enclosed. Aluminium has mass so it’s a sort of matter. The filtrate is waste and ought to be put in the aqueous acidic waste container.

That information still has to be specified. Takshila Learning is notorious for providing quality education at low price. Yes, it is the reason for the choice of date.

Mole fraction may also be calculated from molality. But it is a much larger number of things. The mole isn’t a specific number.

Furthermore, the mass of an electron is negligibly small related to the mass of a common atom. Its molar conductivity is discovered to be equivalent to two ions. The obvious filtrate is subsequently permitted to cool slowly to room temperature.

It’s defined as the sum of a substance that has as many particles because there are atoms in 12 grams of pure carbon-12. Each atom consists of even smaller particles called electrons. Clearly, it is so large that it is useful only for measuring very small objects, such as atoms.

But, it has to be remembered this is not really correct. I simply need to trust them. Okay, you might not get to do this.

By way of example, stand-up comics must be quite creative when they silence a heckler. You will be able to deal with videos in your Watchlist, keep tabs on your favourite shows, watch PBS in high definition, and a whole lot more! Ultimately, a succinct summary and sequence of short review questions are given at the conclusion of the chapter.

[miaburgess085-blog]

Divers with dental work may feel tooth pain under pressure

(Reuters Health) - Divers should talk to their dentists about the effects of underwater pressure and whether dental restorations could become painful, say French researchers. In a laboratory experiment, the study team showed that under high pressure, some dental restorations are more prone to leak than at sea level. That could cause pain during or after a dive, as well as other consequences like making the restored tooth vulnerable to infection, the researchers write in the British Dental Journal. "Sinus or ear barotrauma are more well known, but dentists are increasingly seeing patients with dental pain after an underwater dive," said lead author Dr. Caroline Mocquot of Paris University Diderot in France. "All patients must know about this phenomenon and notify their dentist if they are divers," she told Reuters Health by email. Mocquot and colleagues created simulated teeth made from real third molars bonded to composite material and shaped into uniform discs. Ten of the discs incorporated polyester to simulate porosity and 10 did not. These samples were then exposed to a special dye inside bariatric chambers to see how much microscopic leakage occurred between the composite and tooth material. The discs were submerged six times for 30 minutes each to a pressure of six bars, or the equivalent of about 150 feet underwater. Researchers found that the porous samples showed 45 percent dye penetration under pressure while the non-porous discs showed 38 percent. That compares to about 30 percent dye penetration, with or without porosity, when samples are exposed in everyday settings without added pressure. "The next steps would be to test different composite resins and bonding agents in simulated hyperbaric environments," said Dr. Sangeeta Gajendra of the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, who wasn't involved in the study. In her own recent study of recreational divers, Gajendra found that 41 percent experience dental pain during a dive. "More than half of the teeth affected were molars and had damaged restorations," she told Reuters Health by email. "Ultimately, we need to have techniques that prevent microleakage and reduce porosities." A limitation of the French study is that it uses only 20 samples, and it simulates diving at depths greater than 150 feet, which recreational divers can't reach, said Vinisha Ranna of the University of Buffalo in New York. Certified divers, particularly military divers and speleologists, are able to dive at that depth, noted Ranna, who wasn't involved with the study. "It would be misleading to base clinical recommendations on a teeth whitening Elizabeth NJ study that has been conducted in a simulated environment on a small sample," she told Reuters Health by email.

Mocquot's team recommends specific techniques and materials that dentists can use to minimize the likelihood of leakage in restorations - and suggests that divers discuss the options with their dentists when getting work done. More studies need to be done, however, to understand what's really happening during a dive and how to prevent the pain, Ranna noted. "There are no established criteria that optimize dental treatment in divers," she said. "To make recommendations and guidelines, more rigorous studies are needed." Dentists and patients should discuss hobbies such as diving when considering procedures with dental extractions, anesthesia and endodontic treatment in particular, the study authors write. "It is really important for divers to have good oral health, as they will be less likely to have dental pain during a dive," Gajendra said. "It is imperative for divers to visit their dentists regularly and talk about their diving activities." SOURCE: go.nature.com/2yxtsGk British Dental Journal, online September 8, 2017.

[lovemychinchilla]

A Beginner's Guide to Chinchilla Hay Pellets

Chinchillas are fed pellets alongside their fresh hay. But what are hay pellets, and what do they have in them? Do chinchillas really need them, and if so, why?

What are hay pellets? Hay pellets are compacted hay, often with bulking ingredients added, that form a core part of a chinchilla's diet. They are typically made from timothy hay or alfalfa and look like tiny strips of bran. Your chinchilla needs 1-2 tbsp per day but they can be fed in unlimited amounts as chinchillas self-regulate hay intake. There are many brands available including Oxbow, Mazuri, Tradition, Science Selective, Manna Pro, Purina and more; most are roughly equivalent without much variety in quality.

The guide below covers everything you need to know about chinchilla hay pellets. First it looks at what hay pellets are made from and how they're made, before detailing what they contain (fillers, different kinds of hay, supplements and more). We'll also look at the different brands of chinchilla hay pellets to see which is best.

What Are Hay Pellets (& Do Chinchillas Need Them?)

[caption id="attachment_1164" align="alignright" width="300"] Hay pellets are made from regular old hay.[/caption]

Hay pellets are made from compacted fresh hay. They are made from hays that you would normally feed your pet fresh, such as timothy hay and alfalfa. They can also contain a combination of hays to provide a nutritionally rounded or complete diet.

They look like bran and are a common kind of feed for small pets like chinchillas. They aren't intended to replace hay, but to be fed alongside it, so you have more control over your pet's diet. Some owners feed one or two tablespoons per day, while others allow their chins to have as many as they like (an unlimited supply).

You can buy them from pet stores, from feed stores, or online. They come in large bags and you can buy them in bulk. They're cheap, and there are lots of brands available to choose from, most of which are roughly the same. Almost all chinchilla owners feed their pets one kind of chinchilla pellet or other.

Why Do Chinchillas Need Hay Pellets?

Chinchillas don't strictly need hay pellets. Pellets are, after all, only made of hay. Your pet can get all the hay it needs from eating fresh hay, and some owners do keep their pets on a fresh-hay-only diet. But pellets are useful in several ways:

They are tightly compacted, so give your chinchilla more energy and nutrients with less time spent eating

Pellets can be made of more than one kind of hay to provide a complete nutritional balance; they can also be supplemented with macronutrients or micronutrients

Pellets are easier to store, and to store for longer, than fresh hay

They offer a small amount of variety without compromising the nutritional balance in your chinchilla's overall diet

Because of these factors, almost every experienced owner recommends feeding a chinchilla pellets. They're used by owners new and old, chinchilla ranches, and even scientists studying chinchillas in the lab. You should use them too.

How Are Hay Pellets Made?

Hay pellets are made from regular hay, so that's what this process starts with. They're first cured (dried) in the sun, before being ground down. They are ground down in industrial-sized mills, of which there are many kinds: hammer mills, ball mills, roller mills, die mills and more. The mill chosen will affect the consistency of the final product. After being ground down, the hay is formed into a cable which is chopped by a large knife. You can see these knife marks on the finished product.

The pelleting process heats up the hay because of friction. Big operations therefore use large coolers to cool down the pellets before packaging. These stop the heat from, essentially, cooking the hay and changing its nutritional makeup. The pellets are then bagged for sale.

Hay cubes are made in the same way. The only difference is that hay pellets are ground down to a finer consistency and are, of course, formed into a different final shape.

Do You Have to Soak Hay Pellets?

[caption id="attachment_1265" align="alignright" width="300"] You don't need to soak the hay pellets you give to your chinchilla. Their solidity is good for your chinchilla's teeth.[/caption]

You would have to soak hay pellets if you wanted to eat them, but you don't have to do that for your chinchilla.

Chinchillas don't have mouths and teeth that are the same as ours. They have big front teeth that are perfect for breaking up pellets, and thick molars that are good at breaking them down.

What's more, rodents have rootless teeth. This means that their teeth constantly grow, and need to be ground down on rough surfaces, or else they'll grow too long. That's why chinchillas need chew toys. While some owners disagree, it stands to reason that chewing on tough and fibrous foods would help rather than hinder here.

The reason for the confusion is that other animals that eat hay pellets may need to have them soaked beforehand. Also, this doesn't mean that a chin won't eat damp or wet pellets; they will. It's just that they don't need to be soaked.

What's The Difference Between Pellets & Fresh Hay?

Pellets and fresh hay are both made of hay. But depending on which you pick and how you feed them, they can serve different roles.

One key difference is that pellets are more tightly compacted. They allow your chinchiilla to meet its nutritional needs quicker. They may also have different nutritional values, like if you feed fresh timothy hay with alfalfa pellets.

Many experienced owners and breeders feed their chinchillas nothing but pellets. Scientists who conduct experiments on chinchillas do the same thing. That's because pellets are cheaper to source, stay fresh for longer, and it's known exactly what nutritional value they contain.

Will your chinchilla just eat pellets, not fresh hay? While you could likely feed your pet on nothing but pellets, we recommend a mix of fresh and pelleted hay for optimal health. Chinchillas also enjoy variety, even if they don't strictly need it, and will be happy to have a choice between foods.

What Do Hay Pellets Contain?

High quality hay pellets contain nothing but hay. But there are pellets that contain only one kind of hay, and those that contain several kinds of hay. There are also fillers, additives and supplements to consider.

Alfalfa Pellets vs. Timothy Hay Pellets vs. Bermuda Hay Pellets

[caption id="attachment_1244" align="alignright" width="300"] Different kinds of grass have different nutritional contents.[/caption]

Hay pellets can be made from many different kinds of hay. The kind chosen will determine the nutritional content of the finished product.

The most common is timothy hay. Timothy hay is the most common fresh hay that owners use, so it stands to reason that it makes a good pellet, too. Timothy hay contains the correct levels of each macronutrient (carbs/fiber, protein, fat and water) that chins need.

Alfalfa pellets are perhaps the next-most common. Alfalfa is a sweeter hay than timothy hay, and has around twice the protein. This isn't a major issue as chinchillas need a reasonable amount of protein in their diets. The only issue with alfalfa is that it contains lots of calcium. A buildup of calcium can cause bladder stones in chinchillas.

Bermuda hay is roughly equivalent to timothy hay in terms of its nutrients. It's commonly fed as a fresh hay, and some companies sell it as a pellet hay. You can make any hay into a pellet, including orchard grass hay, meadow hay and more. So long as you buy from a reputable brand and are certain that the product is what it says it is, any pelleted hay is suitable for your pet.

Hay Pellet Fillers

Hay pellets may contain things other than the hay they're labelled as containing. This can either be done on purpose, to bulk out the hay, or by accident (e.g. if there were weeds/other plants in the field when the hay was harvested). Meadow hay, for example, is supposed to contain weeds and random flowers. These add variety and new tastes that make the hay palatable.

Fillers are added on purpose to make the pellets cheaper, but can make a food less nutritious. They aren't commonly seen in branded products which like to proudly proclaim that they have no added ingredients. Examples of potential filler ingredients include:

Soy meal. Soy meal is a very common fodder ingredient, and is even used to bulk out human food. It's a byproduct of using soy to make other, more palatable, products. It's very high in protein (45g per 100g) so can make a timothy hay pellet closer to what a chinchilla needs.

Wheat. Wheat is another cheap bulking ingredient, but it's higher in carbohydrates than protein.

Millet. Millets are a broad family of grasses grown for fodder.

Oils, e.g. flax. Oils give a pellet greater fat content.

If you're worried about additives and fillers, check the ingredients list and/or contact the manufacturer. Bear in mind that some fillers like soy meal can make a product closer to what chinchillas need; chinchillas, especially younger ones, thrive on a higher-protein diet and soy meal helps with that. You therefore shouldn't strictly avoid pellets with fillers and added ingredients, but do your research, and see how appropriate they would be for your pet.

What you should avoid are any pellets that have nuts, seeds or dried fruit added. These mixes are similar to those you give to other animals, but they aren't suitable for chinchillas. That's because nuts and seeds are too high in fat, and dried fruits or vegetables are too high in fructose. Plus if you feed your pet one of these mixes, it will eat all the added bits and leave its hay.

Are There Supplements in Hay Pellets?

Pellets aren't typically supplemented with particular vitamins and minerals. That's because hay has everything chinchillas need already. If a manufacturer wants to ensure that their pellet has the right amount of calcium, for example, they wouldn't add powdered calcium to the mix. Instead, they would blend alfalfa (high in calcium) with timothy hay to give the desired effect.

How Much Hay Pellets Do Chinchillas Need?

Owners generally recommend feeding one to two tablespoons of hay pellets per day. These are served in a bowl in the morning, and the chinchilla can eat them at its leisure. It should spend its time alternately eating the pellets and fresh hay, depending what it's in the mood for. As for how many pellets do chinchillas need, that depends; that's because pellets vary in size. You're better off weighing the pellets rather than counting them out (which even if it was the better option, would take just about forever!)

How Often Should You Give Chinchillas Pellets?

Chinchillas should have hay pellets every day. You can feed them at any time of day, so long as your chinchilla always has some available. Alternatively, you could feed a double portion once every other day. This will mean your chin still gets the same amount of pellets, but you don't have to feed them as often.

Some owners say that you can feed unlimited amounts of pellets. This is an option since they're made from regular hay, so even if your chin chose to eat only pellets and no fresh hay, that wouldn't be a problem.

How Do You Feed a Chinchilla Pellets?

Chinchillas should have hay racks for their fresh hay and a small bowl for their pellets. They can then eat from the bowl at their leisure. You place a suitable amount (two tablespoons) in your chinchilla's bowl each morning.

You can hand feed a chinchilla small amounts of food if you like. But chinchillas spend most of their time eating, and eat most of their food at night when they're active. Hand feeding your chinchilla all of its food therefore isn't possible.

Can You Give a Chinchilla Unlimited Pellets?

The idea of feeding unlimited food to a chinchilla isn't a new one. Your chinchilla should already be getting an unlimited supply of fresh hay from which it can eat as much as it likes. Many owners recommend feeding unlimited amounts of both fresh hay and pelleted hay.

Can Chinchillas Self-Regulate Food Intake?

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignright" width="300"] Chinchillas can be trusted to regulate their own diet, so long as you're feeding them hay.[/caption]

If you ask why owners give their chinchillas unlimited amounts of either fresh hay or pellets, they'll tell you it's because chinchillas can regulate the amount they eat. This is at least partially true, depending on your perspective.

What's definitely true is that chinchillas don't get fat if you give them unlimited fresh or pelleted hay. That's because chinchillas are grazing animals: they forage for food most of the time they're awake. Because they eat hays (or, in the wild, grasses) they have to eat constantly to get enough energy to survive. It's for this reason that chinchillas have strange sleep schedules: they nap for ten to fifteen minutes at a time throughout the day and night so they can get up to get more food.

On top of that, hay is a tough and fibrous food. So on top of having to eat lots of it throughout the day, chins have to chew, chew, and chew some more to even eat it in the first place. This means that there aren't enough hours in the day for a chin to gain weight from eating hay or pellets.

What chinchillas can't do is eat calorific snacks like nuts and seeds. If you gave your chinchilla unlimited cashews, for example, it would eat far too many and get overweight. Chinchillas aren't masters of self control, it's just that hay is tough to eat.

  Which Chinchilla Hay Pellet Brand Is Best?

There are many brands of hay pellets available. Most have roughly the same ingredients and nutritional content. There are some that owners commonly use, and which can be found in almost any pet store. Our guide below looks at three of the most common, assesses their ingredients and nutritional contents, and recommends which of them you should use.

Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Food

What I like about Oxbow's chinchilla pellets is that they're clear about what's in them, and the nutritional value of their product. The ingredients list is admittedly long, as these pellets include...

Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Salt, Lignin Sulfonate, Cane Molasses, L-Ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate (Vitamin C), Limestone, Yeast Culture (dehydrated), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

But on the front of the packet, underneath these ingredients, it states that the pellets 'guaranteed' to contain:

Crude Protein (min) 18.00% Crude Fat (min) 2.50% Crude Fibre (min) 18.00% (max) 23.00% Moisture (max) 10.00% Calcium (min) 0.60%, (max) 1.10% Phosphorus (min) 0.25%

This falls roughly within the range of what chinchillas need, so even if it does contain added ingredients like soybean meal and salt, that's not a problem.

Mazuri Chinchilla Pellets

Mazuri pellets are roughly similar to Oxbow Essentials pellets. Here's a list of the ingredients you can find in them. Let's take a look at what they contain, and what's different to what you'll find in Oxbow (different core ingredients are highlighted):

Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Timothy Hay, Ground Oats, Ground Soybean Hulls, Wheat Germ, Dried Beet Pulp, Cane Molasses, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Soybean Oil, Dried Whey, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Magnesium Oxide, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Form of Vitamin E), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yeast Culture, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Oxide, Nicotinic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.

The most important differences are that Mazuri pellets contain a mixture of alfalfa meal, timothy hay and ground oats. Oxbow, by contrast, only have alfalfa meal and fillers like soybean hulls and soybean meal. That doesn't mean that Mazuri pellets are significantly better, but these slight differences in ingredients and the levels of each they contain mean that the guaranteed nutrients in Mazuri are slightly different to those in Oxbow:

Crude Protein 20.0% min Crude Fat 3.0% min Crude Fiber 18.0% min Moisture 12.0% max Ash 8.5% max Calcium 0.75% min Calcium 1.25% max Phosphorus 0.60% min Vitamin E 175 IU/kg min Ascorbic Acid 100 mg/kg max Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.50% min

Science Selective Chinchilla Pellets

Last but not least, Science Selective has a few different ingredients to the two listed above. The fact that it contains fewer ingredients may appeal to you. It contains:

Lucerne meal (alfalfa), soya hulls, wheat, soybean meal, wheat feed, extruded locust beans, dried parsley, dried plantain, linseed, monocalcium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate. May contain genetically modified soya. Additives: Vitamin A 15000IU/kg, Vitamin D3 1500IU/kg, Ferrous sulphate monohydrate 152mg/kg, Calcium iodate anhydrous 1.5mg/kg, Copper sulphate pentahydrate 20mg/kg, Manganese oxide 38mg/kg, Zinc oxide 62 mg, Sodium selenite 0.2mg/kg.

Despite having different ingredients, though, Science Selective pellets contain roughly the same nutrients as the other two brands. This is roughly what scientists think is most suitable for chinchillas, so it's little wonder that they all have roughly the same nutrients. These pellets contain:

Crude Protein 16% Crude Fat 3.0% Crude Fiber 19% Inorganic Matter 7.0% Calcium 0.8% Phosphorus 0.4%

Which Pellets Should You Buy for a Chinchilla?

Truth be told, any of the three brands above would be suitable for your pet. Their nutritional contents were determined through scientific study, which means you can be as sure as it's possible to be that they provide your pet with what it needs. We recommend trying different brands to see which your chinchilla prefers, as some if not most chinchillas are picky, fussy creatures that inexplicably prefer one to the other despite them being basically the same!

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

[ays_quiz id='9']

#chinchillas #chinchillanutrition

[ezatluba]

Floppy-eared rabbits left deaf and in pain by intensive breeding

Henry Bodkin

1 OCTOBER 2019

Owning floppy-eared rabbits is cruel because the intensively bred animals are likely to be deaf and in pain, the Royal Veterinary College has warned.

In a new study, scientists have proved that floppy or lop-eared breedssuffer from reduced airflow and a build-up of earwax, with the altered head shape also causing dental pain and eating difficulties.

It follows numerous warnings about the cruelty of designer dog breedssuch as pugs and French bulldogs.

Charles Darwin first noted how artificial selection for rabbits with “pendulous” ears was leading to altered skull shapes.

However, the new research is the first to prove conclusively that the breeding preference causes suffering, following years of anecdotal warnings by vets.

Lop-eared breeds are estimated to comprise more than half of rabbits owned as domestic pets in the UK.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has now urged potential owners to “think health over looks” when choosing an animal.

Published in Vet Record, the study compared 15 lop-eared rabbits of various breeds to 15 erect eared rabbits in a rescue centre.

Researchers found that those with floppy ears were 43 times more likely to have narrowed ear canals and 15 times more likely to be exhibiting pain.

Meanwhile the altered head shape of lops can also affect jaw and teeth alignment, potentially causing tooth overgrowth, pain, and eating difficulties.

Health records showed that half of them - eight out of 15 - had dental abnormalities, and six had needed dental treatment, compared with none of the erect erect eared rabbits.

Daniella Dos Santos, BVA President, said: “As well as being likely to suffer from ear and dental problems, lop-eared rabbits are also at increased risk of injury and prone to obesity, as for some, the length of their ears can restrict their movement.

“Sadly, vets tell us that all too often they’re seeing clients who have chosen a pet with certain features without being aware of the serious health and welfare problems they may have as a result.”

In the 19th Century it was common practice for breeders to select rabbits with an over-sized floppy ear on only one side of the skull, a so-called “half-flop”.

The practice fascinated Darwin after he observed that the skull morphology on the side without the large ear was normal, but deformed on other.

The observation helped form his phenotypic accommodation theory, which argued that animal traits have the flexibility to change when the organism is exposed to unusual pressure during development.

Conducted by experts at the Royal Veterinary College, the study found ear wax build-up in the medical records of 14 of them, and repeated ear cleaning in nine.

The equivalent figures for erect eared rabbits were three and none.

The lops were also 23 times more likely to have diseased incisor teeth, 12 times more likely to have overgrown molar teeth, and 13 times more likely to have sharp molars.

Ms Dos Santos added: “It’s critical that prospective owners think ‘health over looks’ when choosing a pet, as extreme features may come hand in hand with hereditary problems that can lead to serious health problems and be distressing and costly to treat.”

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Job: OmahaZoo.GeneticsLabTech

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Laboratory Technician- Genetics Summary: The Laboratory Technician will participate in ongoing molecular and next generation sequencing research as well as conservation-focused investigations by performing the following duties. The start date for this position will be on or after August 1, 2019 Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to): * Carry out experiments and perform required tasks well both under supervision and when operating independently. * Perform molecular and biological experiments. * Practice aseptic technique. * Prepare solutions and media for molecular biology applications. * Perform proper sample handling for molecular analyses. * Compile thorough and accurate lab documentation, paying attention to detail. * Be a proactive communicator, with the ability to read, understand and follow lab protocols and Standard Operating Procedures. * Maintain cleanliness and sanitation while complying with safety procedures in their employed laboratories. * Utilize arithmetic for the performance of daily experiments. * Have a clear understanding of the metric system of weight and volume as well as conversion between various weight measures, and chemical calculations (molarities and pH). * Assist in ordering, care, maintenance, and utilization of department equipment, supplies, and inventories. * Responsible for troubleshooting as necessary and be proactive in resolving problems regarding essential laboratory equipment such as automated sequencers, thermocyclers, and spectrophotometer. * Contribute to grant preparation efforts, literature searches and manuscript writing, as needed. * Assist in running field-based volunteer program in Madagascar by managing e-mail correspondence, conducting interviews with potential volunteers and coordinating the logistics with personnel in Madagascar. * Efficiency and ability to use computers and related programs is imperative. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: * A thorough knowledge of molecular genetics and related techniques, and have a good understanding of biological sciences. Experience with next-generation sequencing is highly preferred. * 1+ years of experience * Strong people skills * Detailed oriented * Willingness to learn and contribute * Follow directions * Meets deadlines Education * A Bachelor's degree in the Biology, Genetics, Environmental Science, or related field is required. An equivalent combination of further education and experience may be substituted. DISCLAIMER The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. Omaha˘s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC. VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE We can only accept applications through this link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=11093&clientkey=77B425C21C6E28F6E3B0849B4A14F1B5&fbclid=IwAR2zI8M_wY9KohN4O_VoHGmaTvSDeKVxxJZNCetS5AH5bbqoD0qemD-E-w4 Genetics Department