bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of structural morphometry in children and adults with persistent developmental stuttering
Authors: Miller Hilary E , Garnett Emily O , Heller Murray Elizabeth S , Nieto-Castañón Alfonso , Tourville Jason A , Chang Soo-Eun , Guenther Frank H
Published: November 2023

This cross-sectional study aimed to differentiate earlier occurring neuroanatomical differences that may reflect core deficits in stuttering versus changes associated with a longer duration of stuttering by analysing structural morphometry in a large sample of children and adults who stutter and age-matched controls. Whole-brain T1-weighted structural scans were obtained from 166 individuals who stutter (74 children, 92 adults; ages 3–58) and 191 controls (92 children, 99 adults; ages 3–53) from eight prior studies in our laboratories. Mean size and gyrification measures were extracted using FreeSurfer software for each cortical region of interest. FreeSurfer software was also used to generate subcortical volumes for regions in the automatic subcortical segmentation. For cortical analyses, separate ANOVA analyses of size (surface area, cortical thickness) and gyrification (local gyrification index) measures were conducted to test for a main effect of diagnosis (stuttering, control) and the interaction of diagnosis-group with age-group (children, adults) across cortical regions. Cortical analyses were first conducted across a set of regions that comprise the speech network and then in a second whole-brain analysis. Next, separate ANOVA analyses of volume were conducted across subcortical regions in each hemisphere. False discovery rate corrections were applied for all analyses. Additionally, we tested for correlations between structural morphometry and stuttering severity. Analyses revealed thinner cortex in children who stutter compared with controls in several key speech-planning regions, with significant correlations between cortical thickness and stuttering severity. These differences in cortical size were not present in adults who stutter, who instead showed reduced gyrification in the right inferior frontal gyrus. Findings suggest that early cortical anomalies in key speech planning regions may be associated with stuttering onset. Persistent stuttering into adulthood may result from network-level dysfunction instead of focal differences in cortical morphometry. Adults who stutter may also have a more heterogeneous neural presentation than children who stutter due to their unique lived experiences.
Impaired discourse content in aphasia is associated with frontal white matter damage
Authors: Ding Junhua , Middleton Erica L , Mirman Daniel
Published: November 2023

Aphasia is a common consequence of stroke with severe impacts on employability, social interactions and quality of life. Producing discourse-relevant information in a real-world setting is the most important aspect of recovery because it is critical to successful communication. This study sought to identify the lesion correlates of impaired production of relevant information in spoken discourse in a large, unselected sample of participants with post-stroke aphasia. Spoken discourse (n = 80) and structural brain scans (n = 66) from participants with aphasia following left hemisphere stroke were analysed. Each participant provided 10 samples of spoken discourse elicited in three different genres, and ‘correct information unit’ analysis was used to quantify the informativeness of speech samples. The lesion correlates were identified using multivariate lesion–symptom mapping, voxel-wise disconnection and tract-wise analyses. Amount and speed of relevant information were highly correlated across different genres and with total lesion size. The analyses of lesion correlates converged on the same pattern: impaired production of relevant information was associated with damage to anterior dorsal white matter pathways, specifically the arcuate fasciculus, frontal aslant tract and superior longitudinal fasciculus. Damage to these pathways may be a useful biomarker for impaired informative spoken discourse and informs development of neurorehabilitation strategies.
Ketogenic metabolic therapy for chronic kidney disease – the pro part
Authors: Weimbs Thomas , Saville Jessianna , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: November 2023

Ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) is a medical nutrition therapy to address certain health and disease conditions. It is increasingly used for many non-communicable diseases that are rooted in abnormal metabolic health. Since chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly caused by overnutrition leading to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, the carbohydrate restriction inherent in KMT may offer a therapeutic option. Numerous studies have found that various forms of KMT are safe for individuals with CKD and may lead to improvement of renal function. This is in contrast to the current standard pharmacological approach to CKD that only slows the relentless progression towards renal failure. Kidney care providers, including physicians and dietitians, are usually not aware of non-standard dietary interventions, including KMT, and often criticize KMT due to common misconceptions and uncertainty about the underlying science, including the common misconception that KMT must involve high protein or meat consumption. This review article discusses the rationales for using KMT, including plant-dominant KMT, for treatment of CKD, clarifies common misconceptions, summarizes the results of clinical studies and discusses why KMT is emerging as an effective medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to consider for patients with kidney disease. KMT, including its plant-dominant versions, can expand a practitioner's kidney health toolbox and will likely become a first-line therapy for CKD in certain CKD-associated conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and polycystic kidney disease.
Risks of the ketogenic diet in CKD – the con part
Authors: Joshi Shivam , Shi Rachel , Patel Jason
Published: November 2023

The ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate diet that has received a lot of attention for its role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. For patients with chronic kidney disease, there is limited evidence on the risks and/or benefits of this diet. However, from the limited evidence that does exist, there are several inferences that can be drawn regarding this diet for patients with kidney disease. The ketogenic diet may not be better than comparator higher carbohydrate diets over the long term. The diet also has low adherence levels in studies lasting ≥12 months. The diet's emphasis on fat, which often comes from animal fat, increases the consumption of saturated fat, which may increase the risk of heart disease. It has the potential to worsen metabolic acidosis by increasing dietary acid load and endogenous acid production through the oxidation of fatty acids. In addition, the diet has been associated with an increased risk of kidney stones in patients using it for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. For these reasons, and for the lack of safety data on it, it is reasonable for patients with kidney disease to avoid utilizing the ketogenic diet as a first-line option given alternative dietary patterns (like the plant-dominant diet) with less theoretical risk for harm. For those adopting the ketogenic diet in kidney disease, a plant-based version of the ketogenic diet may mitigate some of the concerns with animal-based versions of the ketogenic diet.
Mirikizumab Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Moderately-to-Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results From the Phase 3 LUCENT-1 Induction and LUCENT-2 Maintenance Studies
Authors: Sands Bruce E , Feagan Brian G , Hunter Gibble Theresa , Traxler Kristina A , Morris Nathan , Eastman William J , Schreiber Stefan , Jairath Vipul , Long Millie D , Armuzzi Alessandro
Published: November 2023

Background

Mirikizumab, an anti-IL-23p19 antibody, demonstrated efficacy in phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled LUCENT-1 (induction/NCT03518086) and LUCENT-2 (maintenance/NCT03524092) ulcerative colitis (UC) studies. We evaluated the effect of mirikizumab on quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in these studies.

Methods

In LUCENT-1, 1162 patients with moderately-to-severely active UC were randomized 3:1 to receive mirikizumab 300 mg intravenous or placebo every 4 weeks (Q4W) for 12 weeks. In LUCENT-2, mirikizumab induction responders (N = 544) were re-randomized 2:1 to receive mirikizumab 200 mg subcutaneous or placebo Q4W through week (W) 40 (W52 of treatment). QoL was assessed at W12 and W52 using patient-reported outcomes. Treatments were statistically compared using analysis of covariance model (continuous outcomes) and Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test (binary outcomes).

Results

At W12 and W52, mirikizumab showed significant improvement in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) total and domain scores (P < .001); 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS), Mental Component Summary (MCS), and domain scores (P < .05); EQ-5D-5L scores (P < .001); Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (UC) scores (P < .05); Patient Global Rating of Severity (P < .001); and Patient Global Rating of Change (P < .01) scores. A significantly higher proportion of mirikizumab-treated patients achieved IBDQ response (W12: 72.7% vs 55.8%; W52: 79.2% vs 49.2%; P < .001), IBDQ remission (W12: 57.5% vs 39.8%; W52: 72.3% vs 43.0%; P < .001), and clinically important improvements in PCS (W12: 50.6% vs 41.5%; W52: 61.9% vs 36.9%; P < .01) and MCS (W12: 44.2% vs 37.8%; W52: 51.2% vs 34.6%; P < .05) scores.

Conclusions

Mirikizumab improved QoL in patients with moderately-to-severely active UC in phase 3 LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 studies.

Clinical trials registration number

LUCENT-1: NCT03518086; LUCENT-2: NCT03524092
Maize Feature Store: A centralized resource to manage and analyze curated maize multi-omics features for machine learning applications
Authors: Sen Shatabdi , Woodhouse Margaret R , Portwood John L , Andorf Carson M
Published: November 2023

The big-data analysis of complex data associated with maize genomes accelerates genetic research and improves agronomic traits. As a result, efforts have increased to integrate diverse datasets and extract meaning from these measurements. Machine learning models are a powerful tool for gaining knowledge from large and complex datasets. However, these models must be trained on high-quality features to succeed. Currently, there are no solutions to host maize multi-omics datasets with end-to-end solutions for evaluating and linking features to target gene annotations. Our work presents the Maize Feature Store (MFS), a versatile application that combines features built on complex data to facilitate exploration, modeling and analysis. Feature stores allow researchers to rapidly deploy machine learning applications by managing and providing access to frequently used features. We populated the MFS for the maize reference genome with over 14 000 gene-based features based on published genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, variomic and proteomics datasets. Using the MFS, we created an accurate pan-genome classification model with an AUC-ROC score of 0.87. The MFS is publicly available through the maize genetics and genomics database.

Database URL  https://mfs.maizegdb.org/
Reversible ischaemia and outcome after adjustment for coronary artery disease severity: a multicentre stress-echocardiography registry
Authors: Gaibazzi Nicola , Cortigiani Lauro , Rigo Fausto , Porter Thomas R , Guerra Emiliano , Ciampi Quirino
Published: November 2023

Aims

To assess the potential association of reversible ischaemia and Doppler coronary flow velocity reserve in the left anterior descending coronary artery (CFVR-LAD) during stress echocardiography (SE) with all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), after correction for anatomic coronary artery disease (CAD) burden and other significant clinical variables.

Methods and results

We selected 3191 patients (mean age 66 ± 12 years) from our multicentre SE registry, who underwent both high-dose dipyridamole SE (comprehensive of CFVR-LAD measurement) and coronary angiography within 2 months. All-cause mortality and non-fatal MI were the primary end points. The association of the primary end point with ischaemia severity and CFVR-LAD was assessed, after multivariable adjustment for all other significant clinical and imaging variables, including anatomic CAD severity by the modified Duke Prognostic Index. The primary end point occurred in 767 (24%) patients (death in 409 and non-fatal MI in 375 patients) during a median follow-up of 42 months. Multivariable Cox regression analyses indicated that, among other significant variables, anatomic CAD severity, reversible ischaemia, and CFVR-LAD were all independently associated with the primary end point; reversible ischaemia was also associated with subsequent MI, while CFVR-LAD with mortality, independent of anatomic CAD severity.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that reversible ischaemia by wall motion assessment and CFVR-LAD on dipyridamole SE are independently associated with dismal outcome in patients with suspected or known stable CAD, even after accounting for angiographic anatomic CAD severity and also independently from which coronary artery is diseased.
Valve-in-valve as a rescue treatment in retrograde migration of the transcatheter aortic valve to the left ventricle: a case report
Authors: Garcia-Garcia Juan F , Gayosso-Ortiz Jose R , Muratalla-Gonzalez Roberto , Fuentes-Moreno Juan C , Aquino-Bruno Heberto
Published: November 2023

Background

The treatment of choice for patients with severe symptomatic pure native aortic valve regurgitation (PNAVR) is surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, not all patients are candidates for surgery because of comorbidities or are deemed high risk for surgery. In such cases, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has proved to be better than medical treatment.

Case summary

A 78-year-old male with a history of ankylosing spondylitis was admitted with New York Heart Association III heart failure. The echocardiogram showed severe aortic regurgitation and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 52%. Because of high surgical risk and being refractory to medical RX, he was accepted for TAVR. The tomography of anatomical characteristics reported the absence of calcium and dilation of the aortic ring and aortic root. During the TAVR procedure, the patient experienced valve migration, but it was autonomously repositioned in the aortic annulus. As a rescue measure, a second valve was placed. Here, we present a case of valve migration to the left ventricle treated with a valve-in-valve procedure without the need for surgical treatment.

Discussion

The absence of annulus calcification in PNAVR increases the risk of post-TAVR paravalvular leak and device embolization. Valve migration generally requires valve recovery and conversion to SAVR.
Blood pressure, hypertension, and the risk of heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Baffour Priscilla Kyei , Jahangiry Leila , Jain Shalu , Sen Abhijit , Aune Dagfinn
Published: November 2023

Aims

Several observational studies have investigated the association between hypertension or elevated systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and risk of heart failure, but not all the studies have been consistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available data from cohort studies on the association between hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the risk of heart failure.

Methods and results

PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant articles from inception to 10 June 2022. Cohort studies on hypertension or blood pressure and heart failure were included. Random effect models were used to calculate summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between hypertension or blood pressure and heart failure. Forty-seven cohort studies were included. The summary RR was 1.71 (95% CI: 1.53–1.90, I2 = 98.4%) for hypertension vs. no hypertension (n = 43 studies, 166 798 cases, 20 359 997 participants), 1.28 (95% CI: 1.22–1.35, I2 = 90.3%) per 20 mmHg of systolic blood pressure (24 studies, 31 639 cases and 2 557 975 participants), and 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04–1.21, I2 = 92.6%) per 10 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure (16 studies, 23 127 cases and 2 419 972 participants). There was a steeper increase in heart failure risk at higher blood pressure levels and a three- to five-fold increase in RR at around 180/120 mmHg of systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with 100/60 mmHg, respectively. There was little indication of publication bias across analyses.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests a strong positive association between hypertension and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the risk of heart failure. These results support efforts to reduce blood pressure in the general population to reduce the risk of heart failure.
Sex-Specific Limitation of Cardiac Capacity During the Adult Life Span: Return to Fundamental Structure and Function
Authors: Guo Meihan , Diaz-Canestro Candela , Ng Ming-Yen , Yiu Kai Hang , Montero David
Published: November 2023

Physiology underlying reduced cardiac pumping capacity in women compared with men and its interaction with aging remains unresolved. Herein, the pressure gradient (PG) driving venous return was manipulated to evidence whether cardiac structure and/or function explain sex differences in cardiac capacity. Healthy women/men matched by age and physical activity were included within young (n = 40, age = 25 ± 4 years) and older (n = 55, age = 60 ± 8 years) groups. Cardiac volumes/output (Q) were assessed up-to-peak exercise under 2 hemodynamic conditions (“low”/“high” PG between lower/upper body). Main outcomes included sex differences in delta (“high” − “low” PG) left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (∆LVEDV), stroke volume (∆SV), and Q (∆Q). In young individuals, “high”-PG increased exercise LVEDV and SV in men (p ≤ .002), but not in women (p ≥ .562), relative to “low”-PG (control condition). Accordingly, peak ∆LVEDV, ∆SV, and ∆Q were enhanced in young men versus young women (p ≤ .019). Notwithstanding, right/left atrial volumes during exercise were similarly increased by “high”-PG in both young sexes (p ≤ .007). “High”-PG exclusively prolonged moderate exercise LV filling time in young men (p ≤ .036). In older individuals, “high”-PG did not modify exercise cardiac volumes and reduced LV diastolic function (p ≤ .049). In conclusion, the female young heart is unrestrained by venous return or structural factors external to the myocardium. As determined during moderate exercise, impaired LV filling time lengthening limits female-specific cardiac capacity. With older age, cardiac chambers are not distended and LV relaxation is impaired with increased PG in both sexes. During early but not late adulthood, a functional LV limitation may explain sex differences in cardiac capacity.
Examining the Interrelationships Between Social Isolation and Loneliness and Their Correlates Among Older British Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Evidence From Four British Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Mansfield Rosie , Di Gessa Giorgio , Patel Kishan , McElroy Eoin , Wels Jacques , Henderson Morag , Maddock Jane , Stafford Jean , Steptoe Andrew , Richards Marcus , Patalay Praveetha
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives

Unprecedented social restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have provided a new lens for considering the interrelationship between social isolation and loneliness in later life. We present these interrelationships before and during the COVID-19 restrictions and investigate to what extent demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors associated with such experiences differed during the pandemic.

Research Design and Methods

We used data from four British longitudinal population-based studies (1946 NSHD, 1958 NCDS, 1970 BCS, and ELSA, N = 12,129). Rates, co-occurrences, and correlates of social isolation and loneliness are presented prior to and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the interrelationships between these experiences are elucidated in both periods.

Results

Across the Four studies, prepandemic proportions reporting social isolation ranged from 15% to 54%, with higher rates in older ages (e.g., 32% of individuals aged 70–79 years and 54% of those more than 80). During the pandemic, the percentage of older people reporting both social isolation and loneliness and isolation only slightly increased. The interrelationship between social isolation and loneliness did not change. Associations between sociodemographic and health characteristics and social isolation and loneliness also remained consistent, with greater burden among those with higher economic precarity (females, nonhomeowners, unemployed, illness, and greater financial stress).

Discussion and Implications

There were already large inequalities in experiences of social isolation and loneliness and the pandemic had a small impact on worsening extent and inequalities in these. The concepts of loneliness and social isolation are not interchangeable, and clarity is needed in how they are conceptualized, operationalized, and interpreted. Given many older adults experience high levels of social isolation, there should be greater emphasis on reducing social isolation and the inequalities observed in who experiences greater isolation and loneliness.
Care Partner Confidence and Experiences in Legal Planning for People Living With Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Jolliff Anna , Fields Beth , Boutilier Justin , Dudek Alex , Elliott Christian , Zuraw Matthew , Werner Nicole E
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives

Care partners of persons living with dementia perform complex legal planning tasks. The purpose of this study was to survey care partners in the United States to understand their confidence and experience in performing legal planning tasks.

Research Design and Methods

This study used a parallel mixed-methods research design. We administered a web-based survey to 318 adults who self-identified as care partners of persons living with dementia. The survey contained Likert scale questions and open-ended questions about legal planning tasks. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze quantitative data and inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.

Results

Care partners were, on average, 53 years of age and 78% female. The three topics in which participants were least confident were: protecting oneself legally as a care partner; options when legal documents are not in place and a family member is not legally competent; and circumstances when legal documents should be updated or renewed. We observed significant differences in legal planning confidence between newer and more experienced care partners (p < .001); lower- and higher-income care partners (p = .01); and adult child versus spousal care partners (p < .001). Thematic analysis revealed that legal planning challenges include initiating a conversation with the person living with dementia, understanding and using legal materials, and accessing materials that accommodate individual differences.

Discussion and Implications

It is vital to develop legal planning interventions that are tailored to specific subgroups of care partners, and to maximize the clarity, comprehensiveness, and accessibility of available legal planning education.
Ontology-driven analysis of marine metagenomics: what more can we learn from our data?
Authors: Blumberg Kai , Miller Matthew , Ponsero Alise , Hurwitz Bonnie
Published: November 2023

Background

The proliferation of metagenomic sequencing technologies has enabled novel insights into the functional genomic potentials and taxonomic structure of microbial communities. However, cyberinfrastructure efforts to manage and enable the reproducible analysis of sequence data have not kept pace. Thus, there is increasing recognition of the need to make metagenomic data discoverable within machine-searchable frameworks compliant with the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles for data stewardship. Although a variety of metagenomic web services exist, none currently leverage the hierarchically structured terminology encoded within common life science ontologies to programmatically discover data.

Results

Here, we integrate large-scale marine metagenomic datasets with community-driven life science ontologies into a novel FAIR web service. This approach enables the retrieval of data discovered by intersecting the knowledge represented within ontologies against the functional genomic potential and taxonomic structure computed from marine sequencing data. Our findings highlight various microbial functional and taxonomic patterns relevant to the ecology of prokaryotes in various aquatic environments.

Conclusions

In this work, we present and evaluate a novel Semantic Web architecture that can be used to ask novel biological questions of existing marine metagenomic datasets. Finally, the FAIR ontology searchable data products provided by our API can be leveraged by future research efforts.
Pain management after pneumothorax surgery: intercostal nerve block or thoracic epidural analgesia
Authors: Spaans Louisa N , van Steenwijk Quirine C A , Seiranjan Adelina , Janssen Nicky , de Loos Erik R , Susa Denis , Eerenberg Jan P , Bouwman R A (Arthur) , Dijkgraaf Marcel G , van den Broek Frank J C
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES

In patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax, the benefits and risks of single-shot intercostal nerve block as loco-regional analgesia are not well known. We retrospectively compared the effectiveness of intercostal nerve blocks as a viable alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) regarding pain control and enhanced recovery.

METHODS

A retrospective multicentre analysis with single-centre propensity score matching was performed in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax receiving either TEA or intercostal nerve block. The primary outcome was a proportion of pain scores ≥4 (scale 0–10) until postoperative day (POD) 3. Secondary outcomes included variation in pain over time, additional opioid use, length of stay, mobility, complications and recurrence rate.

RESULTS

In 218 patients, TEA was compared to intercostal nerve block and showed no difference in the proportion of pain scores ≥4 {14.3% [interquartile range (IQR) 0.0–33.3] vs 11.1% (IQR 0.0–27.3) respectively, P = 0.24}, more frequently needed additional opioids on the day of surgery (18% vs 48%) and first POD (20% vs 42%), had a shorter length of stay (4.0 days [IQR 3.0–7.0] vs 3.0 days [IQR 2.8–4.0]) and were significantly more mobile until POD 3, while having similar recurrences. Intercostal nerve block had higher pain scores early in the course whereas TEA had higher late (rebound) pain scores.

CONCLUSIONS

In a multimodal analgesic setting with additional opioids, intercostal nerve block shows comparable moments of unacceptable pain from POD 0–3 compared to TEA and is linked to improved mobility. Results require randomized confirmation.
115 The Ramifications of Tail Docking Ewes on Mating Behavior and Reproductive Performance
Authors: Woods Jocelyn M , Adcock Sarah J J
Published: November 2023

Removing a portion of the tail, also known as tail docking, is a common husbandry practice in sheep because it is believed to reduce fecal and urine soiling of the wool. However, support for this claim is sparse, and there is evidence that females of several ungulate species use their tails to communicate in sexual contexts. The objective of this study was to test whether the tail status of a ewe affected the mating preferences of a ram, the responses of the ewe to mounting attempts, conception rate, and litter size. Within 18 Polypay female twin pairs, one lamb was docked by placing a constrictive rubber ring on the tail between 24 to 48 hours of age and the tail of the other lamb was left intact (n = 18/treatment). Between 7 to 8 months of age, the estrus cycles of the ewes were synchronized and 9 groups of 2 twin pairs were exposed to an unfamiliar virgin ram (7 to 8 months of age) for 48 hours. Video footage of the first 2 hours of behavioral interactions was analyzed to determine which ewe the ram first approached, the duration of contact with each ewe, and the count of headbutts and rejected and accepted mounts. Undocked ewes tended to accept twice as many mounts from the ram when compared with docked ewes (X2 = 3.50, P = 0.06). Additionally, undocked ewes tended to reject fewer mounts (X2 = 0.3.72, P = 0.05). Undocked ewes were the targets of twice as many headbutts from the ram when compared with docked ewes (X2 = 19.50, P < 0.001). The analysis of which ewe the ram first approached and the duration of contact with each ewe is ongoing. Of the 36 ewes, 15 docked and 15 undocked ewes were bred, achieving an 83% conception rate. Based on ultrasounds 40 to 44 days post-breeding, tail status did not significantly influence prospective litter size (mean ± SE; docked: 1.73 ± 0.13; undocked: 1.93 ± 0.15; X2 = 1.04, P = 0.31). Our results show that tail docking did not influence the reproductive performance of ewes. However, the behavior of ewes and rams varied based on the tail status of the ewe, with rams targeting more aggression toward undocked ewes and undocked ewes showing greater sexual receptivity. Further research on the merits and pitfalls of tail docking is necessary to determine how this procedure holistically affects sheep welfare and performance.
148 Does Increased Gametic Variance Translate to Increased Heterogeneity in progeny?
Authors: Williams Maeve , Naderi Saeid , Berry Donagh P
Published: November 2023

The expected genetic merit of a new-born calf is simply the average genetic merit estimates of its parents. Parents with a very heterogenous genotype could, however, potentially generate a more heterogenous group of progeny than parents with a more homogenous genotype. The objective of the present study was to test this hypothesis, and a secondary objective was to determine the expected progeny variability in their estimates of genetic merit for traits associated with dairy-beef production based on their expected genomic heterogeneity. Gametic variance for calving difficulty, calf mortality, gestation length, docility, feed intake, and carcass weight, fat, and conformation was estimated for 22,038 beef sires of multiple breeds. Sire gametic variance per trait was estimated for each chromosome from all heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), their location within the genome, and the estimated effect of each SNP on each trait. Gametic variance was estimated for the whole genome as the sum of the estimated gametic variance of all chromosomes. Individual progeny phenotypic records for each trait were adjusted for animal sex, dam parity and dam genetic merit for the trait, heterosis, recombination loss, and contemporary group. The correlations between sire estimated gametic variance and the standard deviation of his (adjusted) progeny phenotypes were then estimated for all sires with at least 20 progeny records; the number of genotyped sires with at least 20 progeny ranged from 2,395 (heifer calving assistance) to 8,545 (calf mortality). The mean gametic variance, relative to the variance of sire genetic merit, for heifer calving difficulty, cow calving difficulty, calf mortality, gestation length, docility, feed intake, carcass weight, carcass conformation, carcass fat were 0.0002, 0.0005, 0.09, 0.07, 0.30, 0.02, 0.25, 0.05, and 0.12, respectively. With the exception of carcass fat and carcass weight, the correlations between the estimated gametic variance per sire and the standard deviation of his (adjusted) progeny phenotypes were non-existent (-0.06 to 0.04); the correlations between the standard deviation of the adjusted progeny phenotypes and the gametic variance for carcass fat and carcass weight were 0.29 and 0.16, respectively. The (weak) correlations between gametic variance and progeny phenotypes for carcass fat and carcass weight suggest that greater gametic variance is associated with increased progeny heterogeneity for both carcass traits. Nevertheless, accounting for gametic variance when selecting beef bulls for use on dairy females seems to provide little benefit.
97 Dissection of Evolution of Cis-Regulatory Elements and Its Application on Genetic Control of Complex Traits in Farm Animals
Authors: Zhou Huaijun
Published: November 2023

Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) has made significant progress on the improvement of the annotation of the functional elements, particularly non-coding regions in farm animal genomes. Different epigenomes including ChIP-seq for 4 histone marks, ATAC-seq, CTCF-seq, RNA-seq, and Hi-C across different tissues in different animal species were generated. Thousands of cis-regulatory elements including promoters and enhancers across different tissues in different species were identified and annotated. A comprehensive characterization and comparison of cis-regulatory elements across tissues and species can help us understand the genetic and evolutionary basis of complex phenotypes. Yet, attempts to dissect the evolution of regulatory elements have generally been small, both regarding the number of tissues and species compared. We demonstrate that genomic variants associated with complex traits and adaptive evolution in farm animals are significantly enriched in active promoters and enhancers. Further analysis suggests that the regulators were significantly enriched in evolutionary breakpoint regions (EBRs) in a tissue-specific and regulator-specific manner. Furthermore, we reveal distinct tissue-specific regulatory elements play important roles in domestication processes. Finally, we provide biological insights on tissue-specific regulatory conservation, and by integrating genome-wide association studies on complex traits, we demonstrate that comparative epigenomic analysis enhances our interpretations of complex traits variations in farm animals and provides novel insights on the role of regulatory elements on the functional conservation across species.
170 Bakery Waste Supplementation to Late Gestating Bos Indicus-Influenced Beef Cows Successfully Impacted Offspring Postnatal Performance
Authors: de Izquierdo Vinicius Souza , Silva Joao , Palmer Elizabeth , Ranches Juliana , Bittar Joao , Pickett Autumn , Cooke Reinaldo F , Vendramini Joao , Moriel Philipe
Published: November 2023

This study evaluated the growth and immune function of Bos indicus-influenced offspring born to cows offered prepartum supplementation of bakery waste containing 2 concentrations of crude fat. On day 0 (~90 d before calving), 108 Brangus crossbred cows were stratified by body weight (BW; 551 ± 65 kg) and body condition score (BCS, 5.5 ± 0.9) and were randomly allocated into 1 of 18 bahiagrass pastures (6 cows and 4.3 ha/pasture). Treatments were randomly assigned to pastures (6 pastures/treatment) and consisted of no prepartum supplementation (NOSUP) and 1 kg/d of low-fat (LFAT; 6.4% crude fat) or high-fat (HFAT; 10.7% crude fat) bakery waste-based supplement from day 0 to 70. Calves were weaned on day 292. Then, 15 heifers/treatment were randomly selected, acclimated for 7 d, and assigned to drylot pens from day 300 to 345. Heifers were vaccinated against respiratory pathogens on days 300 and 315. Cow BCS on day 70 was the least (P ≤ 0.05) for NOSUP cows and did not differ (P ≥ 0.12) between LFAT and HFAT cows. Cow BCS on day 140 (start of breeding season) was greater (P = 0.05) for HFAT vs. NOSUP cows and intermediate (P ≥ 0.35) for LFAT cows. Plasma concentrations of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in HFAT cows did not differ (P ≥ 0.76) compared with LFAT cows on day 70, were greater (P ≤ 0.05) compared with NOSUP cows on day 70 and were the greatest on day 140 (P ≤ 0.05). Percentage of cows pregnant on day 292 did not differ (P ≥ 0.26) among treatments but more HFAT cows calved (P ≤ 0.05) their second offspring from day 429 to 450 compared with NOSUP and LFAT cows. First offspring BW on day 292 were greatest (P ≤ 0.05) for LFAT calves and least for NOSUP calves. Maternal treatments did not impact (P ≥ 0.11) post-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and total DM intake. Average plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P = 0.03) for NOSUP vs. HFAT heifers and intermediate for LFAT heifers (P ≥ 0.26). Final serum titers against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) were greater (P ≤ 0.08) for LFAT vs. HFAT heifers and intermediate (P ≥ 0.27) for NOSUP heifers. Therefore, crude fat concentration in bakery waste offered to late-gestating beef cows had variable effects on offspring performance. Low-fat bakery waste led to greatest offspring preweaning growth whereas high-fat bakery waste enhanced maternal reproductive success and offspring post-weaning humoral immune response.
175 Effects of Random Metaphylaxis Administered at Feedlot Arrival to 0, 33, 66, Or 100% of High-Risk Beef Cattle on Health Outcomes, Complete Blood Count, and Growth Performance
Authors: Hanratty Ashlee Noelle , Broadway Paul R , Sanchez Nicole C Burdick , Carroll Jeffery A , Hoffman Ashley A , Manahan Jeff L , McDaniel Zach S , Line Dalton J , Dornbach Colten W , Smock Taylor M , Theurer Miles , Galyean Michael , Hales Kristin E
Published: November 2023

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of random metaphylaxis administered on arrival to 0, 33, 66, or 100% of high-risk beef cattle on clinical health, growth performance, and complete blood cell counts during a 35-d receiving period. Crossbred beef steers (n = 216; arrival BW = 197 ± 6.4 kg) were used in a generalized complete block design consisting of 2 source blocks and 4 treatments. Experimental treatments and steers were randomly assigned to pen within source block: 1) negative control, subcutaneous injection with sterile saline (NCON); 2) 33% of steers/pen given metaphylaxis (33M); 3) 66% of steers/pen given metaphylaxis (66M); and 4) positive control; conventional metaphylaxis given to 100% of steers (CONV). Body weight and blood samples for quantification of complete blood count were collected on d 0, 14, and 35. Pen was considered the experimental unit for all analyses. Continuous data were analyzed using PROC MIXED, and categorical data were analyzed as binomial proportions using PROC GLIMMIX. Treatment was included in the model as a fixed effect and source block was a random effect. Complete blood counts were analyzed as repeated measures, where day was the repeated effect and pen within treatment was the subject. The percentage of steers treated with an antibiotic for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) once was greater (P < 0.01) for NCON and 33M than for 66M and CONV. Neither BW on d 35 nor average daily gain from d 0 to 35 differed among treatments (P > 0.65), but dry matter intake (DMI) and DMI as a percentage of BW from d 0 to 35 was greater (P < 0.03) for 66M and CONV than for NCON and 33M. No differences in hematological variables were detected among treatments (P > 0.19), whereas all complete blood count variables were affected by day (P < 0.01), except for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.81). Most notably, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was greater (P < 0.01) on d 0 than on d 14 and 35. These data suggest that arrival metaphylaxis can be administered to 66% of cattle at random without increasing BRD morbidity while simultaneously increasing DMI similar to conventional metaphylaxis. Random metaphylaxis may be a viable method to decrease antibiotic use in the feedlot industry, while maintaining health outcomes and growth performance of high-risk beef cattle.
182 Custom Bovine Heifer Development to Advance Onset of Puberty in a Limited-Resource Beef Cow-Calf Operation
Authors: Elder Kasey A , Dunn Rachel , Green Kiana , Odhiambo John F
Published: November 2023

Age at puberty in bovine heifers is controlled largely by genetic and environmental factors, among which nutrition has a major influence. This study evaluated the utility of cool-season forages for heifer development in a limited-resource beef cow-calf system. Beef heifer development was evaluated at 4 time periods: Period 1 (Birth-Weaning) heifers sucked dams until weaning, Period 2 (Weaning-Puberty) heifers grazed natural pastures and supplements in Fall and Winter, Period 3 (Puberty-Breeding) heifers grazed cool-season forages, Period 4 (Breeding-Pregnancy) heifers were maintained on Spring and Summer forages. The supplements were fed at a rate of 0.45 kg/68.2 kg. calf BW and consisted of a 1:1 ratio of cracked corn and commercial grower pellets. Cool-season pasture consisted mainly of Rye grass and clovers. Hay, water, and minerals were provided free choice. Heifer body weights were obtained at quarterly intervals. They were synchronized with two doses of prostaglandin F (PGF) 2α, 14 days apart before bull introduction on June 1st. Pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasonography at the end of breeding in August. The growth trajectory was evaluated by mixed procedures of SAS. A stair-step pattern of body weight gain was observed from birth to pregnancy. There was rapid growth pre-weaning, average daily gain (ADG) = 0.95 ± 0.0.17kg ∙heifer-1∙day-1. Limited growth during the juvenile period (ADG = 0.24 ± 0.17kg∙heifer-1∙day-1) and compensatory growth during the pre-pubertal period (ADG = 1.32 ± 0.17kg∙heifer-1∙day-1). These preliminary results indicate that limited-resource beef cow-calf producers should utilize winter forages to leverage compensatory growth in their heifer development programs. Funded by FAMU World Class Scholars Program and NIFA CBG # 2021-38821-34599
413 Awardee Talk: Reproductive Efficiency: Managing Cows to Improve Reproductive Efficiency
Authors: Perry George A
Published: November 2023

Management of a herd has a tremendous impact on reproductive efficiency, and estrous synchronization can be used as a tool to help get more animals to conceive early. In comparisons among synchronization protocols, pregnancy success did not differ between newer protocols. The factors that had the greatest impact on pregnancy success were estrous cycling status before the breeding season (estrous cycling > non-cycling; P < 0.01) and expression of estrus before fixed-time AI (estrual > non-estrual; P < 0.01). Thus, herd management, before the breeding season, has a large impact on reproductive success. Timing and type of vaccine used prebreeding can impact pregnancy success and luteal function (killed vaccine > modified live; P < 0.05). Nutritional changes can also impact reproductive efficiency. A decrease in available energy pre- (P = 0.05) or post-breeding (P = 0.02) decreased embryo quality (stage and grade, respectively) and subsequent concentrations of progesterone (P < 0.01). Cattle fertility is not only controlled by the female but is also controlled by the male. Stage of sexual maturity in bulls impacted scrotal circumference P < 0.0003), motility (P < 0.001), as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01), but stage of bull maturity did not influence viability, chromatin structure, nor amount of reactive oxygen species. Prenatal stress of a bull impacted the portion of sperm with DNA damage (control > prenatal stress; P = 0.04), but did not impact scrotal circumference, motility, mitochondrial membrane potential, or reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, sperm from bulls that were stressed in utero did not have differences in fertilization compared with control bulls; however, possible epigenetic modifications, to the sperm produced, resulted in fewer embryos making it to blastocyst stage (P = 0.03). Thus, management decisions made throughout the year can have a tremendous impact on reproductive efficiency and the percentage of animals that conceive early not only in the present breeding season but also in future breeding seasons as well.
22 Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurement and Modeling in Complex Beef Production Systems
Authors: Campbell Terra N
Published: November 2023

Measuring and modeling gas emissions from cattle production pose unique challenges due to the complex nature of these systems. Several methods exist for measuring gas emissions including chambers, tracers, open path lasers, and eddy covariance systems. Each method comes with challenges and benefits. Accurate measurements are crucial for accounting and model development. Simple emission factor methods of accounting require less data but fail to represent dynamic factors that drive emissions. Whole farm emissions will vary depending on several factors including region, cattle breed and age, diet, climate, and manure management. Dynamic models provide more representative emissions, but require far more data, sophisticated software, and are not always user friendly.
40 Genetic Selection for Water Intake in Beef Cattle
Authors: Rolf Megan M
Published: November 2023

The amount of water consumed daily by beef cattle is a heritable trait, but one that likely has varying levels of importance across the US and the world. Results from a USDA-funded water intake and adaptability to water restriction (as a proxy for reduced consumption due to poor water quality) project will be presented.
18 Role of the Rumen Microbiome in Beef Cattle Gut Physiology and Performance
Authors: Myer Phillip R
Published: November 2023

The diverse rumen microbiome converts low-quality feedstuffs into usable energy and provides approximately 70% of the energy required by its ruminant host through fermentation byproducts. Due to microbial impacts on host health and productivity, numerous studies have associated rumen microbiome variation with important sustainability phenotypes, such as feed efficiency and methane emissions. Although diet, genetics, and environment contribute to variation in feed efficiency, selection for feed-efficient beef cattle using genetic improvement technologies has helped to understand and improve the persistence and longevity of such phenotypes within the herd. While diet has been considered to be the primary driver for the composition and structure of the rumen microbiome, recent studies have indicated the microbial communities present in the rumen are under low-to-moderate host genetic control. The mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic microorganisms that reside in the rumen and lower gastrointestinal tract of cattle and other ruminants exert enormous influence over animal physiology and performance. The ability to interrogate these systems at great depth has permitted a greater understanding of the microbiological and molecular mechanisms involved in ruminant nutrition and health. The work in our group in the field of beef cattle gut microbiology, as it relates to feed efficiency, permits the exploration of these critical microbial community networks. This knowledge will aid researchers seeking to address the grand challenge of maintaining host-efficient gut microbiomes throughout cattle production operations. This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant no. 2020-67015-30832 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.