bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography in Mycobacterium chimaera endocarditis: a case series
Authors: Dafaalla Mohamed , Weight Nicholas , Cajic Verran , Dandekar Uday , Gopalakrishnan Kishore , Adesanya Oludolapo , Low Chen S , Banerjee Prithwish
Published: December 2019

Background

Infective endocarditis secondary to Mycobacterium chimaera can present with classical constitutional symptoms of infective endocarditis but can be blood culture negative and without vegetations on transthoracic or transoesophageal echocardiogram. Patients with prosthetic valves are at particularly high risk.

Case summary

We present two patients who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis secondary to M. chimaera infection. They presented similarly with pyrexia of unknown origin and night sweats. Both patients had previously undergone aortic valve replacement; one with a tissue valve and the other with a metallic valve. New cardiac murmurs were evident on auscultation, but clinical examination showed no peripheral stigmata of endocarditis. Transoesophageal echo and transthoracic echo were both unremarkable, as were serial blood cultures. FDG PET CT scan was the key investigation, which showed increased uptake in the spleen beside other areas. Histopathology and mycobacterial cultures confirmed the diagnosis of M. chimaera infection in both cases. The first patient completed medical therapy and is now fit and well. However, the second patient unfortunately developed disseminated infection causing death.

Discussion

The management of M. chimaera infective endocarditis is challenging, often with delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes. In the context of negative blood cultures and inconclusive echocardiograms where there remains a high index of suspicion for endocarditis, FDG PET CT scanning can be a crucial diagnostic importance and should be considered early in patients with prosthetic valves.
Non-contrast computed tomography of type A acute aortic dissection in patients with out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest: a case series
Authors: Takeuchi Shinsuke , Yamaguchi Yoshihiro , Yoshino Hideaki
Published: December 2019

Background

The prognosis of patients admitted for acute aortic dissection (AAD) has remarkably improved. However, we must also consider out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCPA) patients while assessing the prognosis. In recent years, autopsy imaging has become more common as an alternative to conventional autopsy. Therefore, we reviewed our OHCPA patients with type A AAD using acute phase non-contrast computed tomography (CT).

Case summary

Here, we report a case series of three patients who developed OHCPA and were diagnosed with type A AAD using non-contrast CT. Although the direct causes of death varied in each case, we could easily determine the direct causes of death from clinical course of the condition and from non-contrast CT.

Discussion

Although non-contrast CT does not completely replace autopsy, if its convenience and non-invasiveness make it possible for more patients to undergo the procedure, the real prognosis (including morbidity and mortality) may be better understood. Therefore, we considered it significant to use non-contrast CT for investigating the cause of sudden death.
Grotius’ ‘Rule of Law’ and the Human Sense of Justice: An Afterword to Martti Koskenniemi’s Foreword
Authors: Nijman Janne E
Published: December 2019

Rereading Grotius in 2019 as a sequel to the 1990 and 2009 European Journal of International Law’s contributions on ‘the politics of international law’, at a time of staggering global inequality, Martti Koskenniemi asks what we can learn from Grotius about the ‘tendency [of humans] to subordinate themselves’ to law and, I may add, the limits of that tendency. While I agree with Koskenniemi that Grotius’ ‘rule-of-law’ conception may help us understand the current backlash against the international rule of law, I suggest an alternative reading of this conception that may assist us even more. Grotius’ understanding of humans and of the importance of corrective and distributive justice as components of the international rule of law helps us see the cry ‘take back control’ as ‘indignation’ about the (social) injustices and global inequality that international institutions (re)produce and as a cry for just international institutions. Koskenniemi’s Foreword rightly asks: what is ‘required of us’? I suggest that we should understand the current backlash as an institutional crisis as well as a crisis of selfhood. Reading Grotius may encourage us to include critical language of distributive justice in our ‘bricolage’ to address ‘legitimate popular grievance’ about the international rule of law and address the human desire for just institutions also at the international level.
Pilot evaluation of an interactive multimedia platform to provide nutrition education to Portuguese adolescents
Authors: Tallon José Maria , Dias Raquel Saavedra , Costa Aldo Matos , Narciso Janine , Barros Ana , Silva António José
Published: December 2019

Background

Obesity prevalence has been rising worldwide and currently is one of the most serious public health problems. Nutrition literacy is important to the development of healthier habits that could help prevent and stem obesity and overweight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of using a multimedia web platform to provide nutrition education to Portuguese adolescents.

Methods

The intervention consisted in a two-week period in which students (n = 1291) had access to an interactive multimedia web platform with nutritional content, and designed for a self-paced learning experience. Students completed a knowledge questionnaire at baseline and immediately after the end of the intervention.

Results

The results obtained revealed that 85.8% of the students increased their nutrition knowledge. No gender differences were observed post-intervention. There were significant differences in the knowledge acquisition regarding age (P < 0.001). The baseline knowledge seemed to influence the learning process.

Conclusions

Overall, the intervention had a positive impact. The preliminary results observed will be important for the improvement of the intervention, though they need to be confirmed by further research. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that technology-based assets can be important tools to incorporate and complement health-related interventions in schools.
Density regulation of mixed and mono-specific forest stands as a continuum: a new concept based on species-specific coefficients for density equivalence and density modification
Authors: Pretzsch Hans , del Río Miren
Published: December 2019

A wealth of recent research has improved our understanding of the structure, growth and yield of mixed-species stands. However, appropriate quantitative concepts for their silvicultural regulation remain scarce. Due to the species-specific stand densities, growing area requirements and potential over-density, the density and mixing regulation in mixed stands is much more intricate than in monospecific stands.

Here, we introduce the species-specific coefficients: density equivalence coefficients (DEC), for density equivalence; and density modification coefficient (DMC), for density modification in mixed species stands. DEC is suitable for the conversion of the stand density and growing area requirement of one species into that of another species. DMC estimates the modification of maximum stand density by tree species mixing using as reference the maximum stand density of one of the species.

First, we introduce the theoretical concept of these coefficients. Second, we derive the mean values of these coefficients based on long-term experiments using different mixtures of European beech. Third, we apply DEC and DMC for flexible regulation of the stand density and mixing proportion. Thus, silvicultural regulation of monospecific stands and mixed-species stands forms a continuum, where monospecific stands represent an extreme case of mixed-species stands.

Lastly, we discuss the advantages and limitations of these concepts. Future directions comprise the inclusion of additional species, their integration in guidelines and simulation models, and their establishment for the quantitative regulation of experimental plots and the practical implementation in forest stands.
Making the Case for Age-Diverse Universities
Authors: Morrow-Howell Nancy , Lawlor Edward F , Macias Edward S , Swinford Emma , Brandt Jeff
Published: December 2019

Life expectancy has increased substantially; yet universities remain age-segregated and fail to educate people across the longer life course. Demographic shifts call for universities to change their orientation toward age and life course. Arguments as to why universities should serve students of all ages and operate as age-diverse communities include: ensuring the capacity of individual workers and the labor force; educating people to succeed in age-diverse settings; producing innovation in an aging society; supporting meaningful engagement, social connection, and cognitive health into later life; and ensuring the supply of students. Conceptual foundations for these arguments derive from ideas about age stratification, where chronological age is used as a criterion for inclusion or exclusion from social expectations, roles, and privileges and where age integration is viewed as a positive alternative. In response to population aging and the constraints associated with age segregation in higher education, the Age-Friendly University Global Network was formed to increase the inclusion of older learners in all aspects of university life. The challenge is to create conditions where nontraditionally aged students expect to engage fully in educational activities, where students of all ages are valued and supported, and where age diversity is a common feature of campus life. The transformation of our universities must be done for the sake of society, for younger and older people, and for the self-interest of institutions themselves.
GraphClust2: Annotation and discovery of structured RNAs with scalable and accessible integrative clustering
Authors: Miladi Milad , Sokhoyan Eteri , Houwaart Torsten , Heyne Steffen , Costa Fabrizio , Grüning Björn , Backofen Rolf
Published: December 2019

Background

RNA plays essential roles in all known forms of life. Clustering RNA sequences with common sequence and structure is an essential step towards studying RNA function. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing techniques, experimental and genomic data are expanding to complement the predictive methods. However, the existing methods do not effectively utilize and cope with the immense amount of data becoming available.

Results

Hundreds of thousands of non-coding RNAs have been detected; however, their annotation is lagging behind. Here we present GraphClust2, a comprehensive approach for scalable clustering of RNAs based on sequence and structural similarities. GraphClust2 bridges the gap between high-throughput sequencing and structural RNA analysis and provides an integrative solution by incorporating diverse experimental and genomic data in an accessible manner via the Galaxy framework. GraphClust2 can efficiently cluster and annotate large datasets of RNAs and supports structure-probing data. We demonstrate that the annotation performance of clustering functional RNAs can be considerably improved. Furthermore, an off-the-shelf procedure is introduced for identifying locally conserved structure candidates in long RNAs. We suggest the presence and the sparseness of phylogenetically conserved local structures for a collection of long non-coding RNAs.

Conclusions

By clustering data from 2 cross-linking immunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrate the benefits of GraphClust2 for motif discovery under the presence of biological and methodological biases. Finally, we uncover prominent targets of double-stranded RNA binding protein Roquin-1, such as BCOR's 3′ untranslated region that contains multiple binding stem-loops that are evolutionary conserved.
Rhodopsin signaling mediates light-induced photoreceptor cell death in rd10 mice through a transducin-independent mechanism
Authors: Sundar Jesse C , Munezero Daniella , Bryan-Haring Caitlyn , Saravanan Thamaraiselvi , Jacques Angelica , Ramamurthy Visvanathan
Published: December 2019

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a debilitating blinding disease affecting over 1.5 million people worldwide, but the mechanisms underlying this disease are not well understood. One of the common models used to study RP is the retinal degeneration-10 (rd10) mouse, which has a mutation in Phosphodiesterase-6b (Pde6b) that causes a phenotype mimicking the human disease. In rd10 mice, photoreceptor cell death occurs with exposure to normal light conditions, but as demonstrated in this study, rearing these mice in dark preserves their retinal function. We found that inactivating rhodopsin signaling protected photoreceptors from degeneration suggesting that the pathway activated by this G-protein-coupled receptor is causing light-induced photoreceptor cell death in rd10 mice. However, inhibition of transducin signaling did not prevent the loss of photoreceptors in rd10 mice reared under normal light conditions implying that the degeneration caused by rhodopsin signaling is not mediated through its canonical G-protein transducin. Inexplicably, loss of transducin in rd10 mice also led to photoreceptor cell death in darkness. Furthermore, we found that the rd10 mutation in Pde6b led to a reduction in the assembled PDE6αβγ2 complex, which was corroborated by our data showing mislocalization of the γ subunit. Based on our findings and previous studies, we propose a model where light activates a non-canonical pathway mediated by rhodopsin but independent of transducin that sensitizes cyclic nucleotide gated channels to cGMP and causes photoreceptor cell death. These results generate exciting possibilities for treatment of RP patients without affecting their vision or the canonical phototransduction cascade.
Association Between Side Effects and Blood microRNA Expression Levels and Their Targeted Pathways in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Treated by a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Escitalopram: A CAN-BIND-1 Report
Authors: Yrondi Antoine , Fiori Laura M , Frey Benicio N , Lam Raymond W , MacQueen Glenda M , Milev Roumen , Müller Daniel J , Foster Jane A , Kennedy Sidney H , Turecki Gustavo
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Antidepressant drugs are effective therapies for major depressive disorder; however, they are frequently associated with side effects. Although there is some evidence for a relationship between genetic variation and side effects, little is known regarding the role of dynamic molecular factors as moderators of side effects. The aim of this study was to assess microRNA (miRNA) changes associated with side effects during escitalopram treatment and their downstream effects on target gene expression.

Methods

A total 160 patients with major depressive disorder from the CAN-BIND-1 cohort were included. Side effects were assessed with the Toronto Side Effect Scale after 2 weeks of treatment with escitalopram. We assessed the relationship between side effects and changes in peripheral expression of miRNAs between baseline and week 2. For miRNA whose expression changed, we used target prediction algorithms to identify putative messenger RNA (mRNA) targets and assessed their expression.

Results

Nausea was experienced by 42.5% of patients. We identified 45 miRNAs whose expression changed on initiation of escitalopram treatment, of which 10 displayed a negative association with intensity of nausea (miR15b-5p, miR17-5p, miR20a-5p, miR20b-5p, miR103a-3p, miR103b, miR106a-5p, miR182-5p, miR185-5p, and miR660-5p). Additionally, we found negative associations between 4 microRNAs (miR20a-5p, miR106a-5p, miR185-5p, miR660-5p) and mRNA targets. The expression of the miR185-5p target, CAMK2δ was significantly decreased [log 2 mean = −0.048 (0.233)] between weeks 0 and 2 (P = .01)].

Conclusions

We identified an overexpression of miR185-5p during escitalopram treatment of major depressive disorder, which was negatively associated with intensity of nausea, and identified a potential mRNA target that may mediate this effect.
Birkhoff and Lyapunov Spectra on Planar Self-affine Sets
Authors: Bárány Balázs , Jordan Thomas , Käenmäki Antti , Rams Michał
Published: December 2019

Working on strongly irreducible planar self-affine sets satisfying the strong open set condition, we calculate the Birkhoff spectrum of continuous potentials and the Lyapunov spectrum.
Infinity Harmonic Functions over Exterior Domains
Authors: Hong Guanghao , Zhao Yizhen
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we study the infinity harmonic functions with linear growth rate at infinity defined on exterior domains. We show that such functions must be asymptotic to planes or cones at infinity. We also establish the solvability of Dirichlet problems for exterior domains.
On classifying sepsis heterogeneity in the ICU: insight using machine learning
Authors: Ibrahim Zina M , Wu Honghan , Hamoud Ahmed , Stappen Lukas , Dobson Richard J B , Agarossi Andrea
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Current machine learning models aiming to predict sepsis from electronic health records (EHR) do not account 20 for the heterogeneity of the condition despite its emerging importance in prognosis and treatment. This work demonstrates the added value of stratifying the types of organ dysfunction observed in patients who develop sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU) in improving the ability to recognize patients at risk of sepsis from their EHR data.

Materials and Methods

Using an ICU dataset of 13 728 records, we identify clinically significant sepsis subpopulations with distinct organ dysfunction patterns. We perform classification experiments with random forest, gradient boost trees, and support vector machines, using the identified subpopulations to distinguish patients who develop sepsis in the ICU from those who do not.

Results

The classification results show that features selected using sepsis subpopulations as background knowledge yield a superior performance in distinguishing septic from non-septic patients regardless of the classification model used. The improved performance is especially pronounced in specificity, which is a current bottleneck in sepsis prediction machine learning models.

Conclusion

Our findings can steer machine learning efforts toward more personalized models for complex conditions including sepsis.
195 Association of insulin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide-1 with production traits of growing and finishing beef heifers fed forage- and concentrate-based rations
Authors: Foote Andrew P , Freetly Harvey C
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study was to determine the association of insulin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) with production traits of growing and finishing beef heifers fed a forage- (FOR) and concentrate-based (CONC) ration. This experiment was conducted over 2 years. Shortly after weaning, heifers (n = 74 and 62, for year 1 and 2, respectively) were placed on a ration containing (DM basis) 69.8% corn silage, 30% alfalfa hay, and 0.2% salt. Feed intake was measured for 84 d using Calan gates and BW were measured at 7-time points to calculate ADG using a quadratic regression of BW on time. Cattle were then transitioned to a concentrate-based finishing ration containing (DM basis) 67.8% dry-rolled corn, 20% wet distillers grains with solubles, 8% alfalfa hay, and 4.2% vitamin/mineral supplement. Blood samples were collected on day 42 of each period. Data were analyzed as a mixed model with fixed effects of sire breed, period, and the random variable of year. Hormone concentration was included as an interaction with period to determine the association of the hormones with production traits. Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily body weight gain (ADG), gain:feed (G:F), and all three hormones were greater in the CONC period (P < 0.01). Insulin was negatively associated with DMI only during the CONC period (P = 0.04) and positively associated with G:F (P = 0.01). GLP-1 was positively associated with CONC DMI (P < 0.01), FOR ADG (P < 0.01), and positively associated with FOR G:F and negatively associated with CONC G:F (P < 0.01). Glucagon was positively associated with residual feed intake (P = 0.04). While these data do not infer causality, they do indicate that more in-depth understanding of the role of gut peptide and insulin signaling in feed efficiency needs to be evaluated.
230 Genome editing applications in plants: high-throughput CRISPR/Cas editing for crop improvement
Authors: Thomson Michael
Published: December 2019

The precision and ease of use of CRISPR nucleases, such as Cas9 and Cpf1, for plant genome editing has the potential to accelerate a wide range of applications for crop improvement. For upstream research on gene discovery and validation, rapid gene knock-outs can enable testing of single genes and multi-gene families for functional effects. Large chromosomal deletions can test the function of tandem gene arrays and assist with positional cloning of QTLs by helping to narrow down the target region. Nuclease-deactivated Cas9 fusion proteins with transcriptional activators and repressors can be used to up and down-regulate gene expression. Even more promising, gene insertions and allele replacements can provide the opportunity to rapidly test the effects of different alleles at key loci in the same genetic background, providing a more precise alternative to marker-assisted backcrossing. Recently, Texas A&M AgriLife Research has supported the development of a Crop Genome Editing Lab at Texas A&M working towards optimizing a high-throughput gene editing pipeline and providing an efficient and cost-effective gene editing service for research and breeding groups. The lab is using rice as a model to test and optimize new approaches aimed towards overcoming current bottlenecks. For example, a wealth of genomics data from the rice community enables the development of novel approaches to predict which genes and target modifications may be most beneficial for crop improvement, taking advantage of known major genes, high-resolution GWAS data, multiple high-quality reference genomes, transcriptomics data, and resequencing data from the 3,000 Rice Genomes Project. Current projects have now expanded to work across multiple crops to provide breeding and research groups with a rapid gene editing pipeline to test candidate genes in their programs, with the ultimate goal of developing nutritious, high-yielding, stress-tolerant crops for the future.
245 Effects of dietary macronutrient content on fecal microbiota populations and metabolite concentrations of healthy adult dogs
Authors: Lin Ching-Yen , Carroll Meredith , Yang Xiaojing , Do Sungho , Shi Wanting , Phungviwatnikul Thunyaporn , He Fei , Swanson Kelly S
Published: December 2019

Diet is one of the greatest influences on gut microbiota number and activity, and one that can rapidly alter conditions. However, limited information about the longitudinal effects of diet on canine fecal microbiota is available. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary macronutrient content on fecal microbiota populations and metabolites of adult dogs. Twelve adult female beagles (age: 5.16±0.87 yr, BW: 13.37±0.68 kg) were used in a crossover design with two 27-d experimental periods. All dogs were fed a kibble diet (control) from d1–14, and then fed that diet supplemented with fiber (HFD) or changed to a canned diet (CD) from d15–27. Fresh fecal samples were collected on d13, 16, 20, 24, and 27 for measurement of metabolites and microbiota populations. Microbial data were analyzed using QIIME 2. Other data were analyzed using Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4. Compared with controls, dogs fed HFD had greater (P < 0.05) daily fiber intake, while dogs fed CD had greater (P < 0.05) daily protein and fat intakes. Fecal acetate, propionate, and total SCFA increased (P < 0.05) after the change to HFD (d16), with concentrations being maintained through d27. Fecal isobutyrate, isovalerate, total BCFA, phenol, and indole increased (P < 0.05) after dogs consumed CD (d16), with concentrations being maintained through d27. When dogs consumed HFD (d16), microbial alpha-diversity increased (P < 0.05) and was maintained through d27, while beta-diversity (weighted UniFrac distance measures) were altered (P < 0.05) and stabilized from d20 to d27. Relative abundances of Firmicutes increased (P < 0.05) by d24, while Fusobacteria decreased (P < 0.05) by d16 and was stable from d20 to d27, in dogs fed HFD. In conclusion, diets affected fecal microbiota and metabolites. Although concentrations of fecal metabolites were stabilized after 2d, fecal microbial populations needed more time to stabilize after diet transition.
85 DNA parentage in multi-sire breeding groups and sire repeatability on replacement heifer performance
Authors: Mills Tess D , Larson Kathy A , Asai-Coakwell Mika , Fernandez Diego Moya , Campbell John R , Lardner Bart
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study was to apply DNA parentage testing in multi-sire breeding groups to assess repeatability of a sire’s impact on replacement females and terminal animals. Parentage testing was performed on DNA from 37 bulls and 1578 calves from a commercial ranch using natural breeding in four multi-sire breeding pastures over a four-year period (2015–2018). Parentage data was analyzed using Chi-square procedures. In 2016 and 2018, all bulls in the four breeding groups sired significantly different (P < 0.01) numbers of calves than expected. In 2015 and 2017, bulls in 2 of 4 and 3 of 4 breeding groups, respectively, sired significantly different (P < 0.01) numbers of calves than expected. For the 2015 and 2016 calf crops, three of 24 bulls used sired 30% of the calves and 33% of the selected replacement heifers. In 2017 and 2018, the calves born to the daughters of these three most prolific sires, averaged 4.5kg lower weaning weights than the average wean weights of the remaining calves. In 2018, all calves were tested for breed composition and vigour score using the EnvigourHX test from Neogen (Neogen Canada Inc., Edmonton Alberta, Canada). The average herd vigour score was 70%; the average vigour score for 2018 calves born to daughters of the top three prolific sires was 56%. Coupling production measures (weaning weights, birth dates, calving intervals) with sire parentage and vigour score data provides beef cattle producers with additional information to guide breeding choices to improve production in their operations.
256 Rye with or without purple top turnips for stocker calf grazing as part of a Southeastern U.S. integrated crop-livestock system
Authors: Cox - O’Neill Jordan L , Ott Grace C , Harmon Deidre D , Poore Matt H , Eisemann Joan H , Pickworth Carrie L
Published: December 2019

The objective was to evaluate stocker calf performance and grazing potential of double-crop annual forages during the winter as a diversified crop-livestock system. Angus crossbred steers (n = 56) were stratified by BW (275 ± 1.3 kg) and hip-height (118.3 ± 0.66 cm) into 12 groups (n = 4 to 6/group) and randomly assigned to graze either monoculture rye (RYE) or rye and turnip mixture (MIX). The study was conducted at two locations in eastern North Carolina. Each treatment had 3 replicate pastures (6 to 9 ha) per location with a stocking rate of 0.6 ha/steer. Winter annual treatments were planted following corn grain harvest in early October, with the MIX producing 64% ± 2.9% rye and 36% ± 2.0% turnip (leaf and root) on a DM basis. Two-day consecutive weights of steers were taken at initiation and completion of the grazing period. Mineral and water were available ad libitum. Data were analyzed using Mixed Procedure of SAS and differences were declared at P < 0.05, with tendencies declared between P = 0.05 and 0.10. Initial forage mass was greater (P < 0.05) for MIX (1889 kg DM/ha; 9.4% turnip root) than RYE (1568 kg DM/ha). All steers at a location were removed from grazing when forage mass was estimated at 1200 kg DM/ha. The grazing period was 45 days for location 1 and 77 days for location 2. Values for steers grazing RYE and MIX, respectively, for the following variables did not differ (P > 0.10): free choice mineral intake, 201 g/d and 216 g/d; ADG 0.99 kg/d and 1.05 kg/d; gain per hectare 104 kg/ha and 110 kg/ha; and hip-height growth 8.9 cm and 8.1 cm. The increased forage availability for the MIX did not result in greater ADG or gain per hectare when stocking rate and grazing period remained constant.
127 Dietary supplementation with glycine improves the post-weaning growth of low-birth-weight pigs
Authors: He Wenliang , Posey Erin A , Wu Guoyao
Published: December 2019

Pigs with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) represent 20–25% of all pigs born and are culled on farm, resulting in enormous losses. This study tested the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with glycine enhanced the growth of IUGR pigs after weaning. Healthy pigs [14 IUGR pigs (birth weight = 0.98±0.03 kg, mean ± SEM) and 20 NBW pigs (birth weight = 1.44±0.02 kg, mean ± SEM)] were used for the trial. At weaning (21 d of age), pigs within each birth weight group were assigned randomly into corn- and soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 1% glycine plus 0.19% corn starch or 1.19% alanine (isonitrogenous control). There were 7 IUGR pigs and 10 NBW pigs per subgroup. Crude protein content in basal diets was 20% between d 21 and 64, 18% between d 65 and 108, and 16% between d 109 and 120 of age. During the 100-d period of feeding, feed intake per kg body weight did not differ (P > 0.05) between IUGR and NBW pigs or between control and glycine groups. Growth rates of NBW pigs supplemented with 1% glycine did not differ (P > 0.05) from those for NBW pigs without glycine supplementation. In contrast, growth rates of IUGR pigs supplemented with 1% glycine were 28%, 15%, and 10% greater (P > 0.05) than those for IUGR pigs without glycine supplementation during d 21–35, d 35–64, and d 65–120 of age, respectively. Growth rates of NBW pigs were greater (P > 0.05) than those for IUGR pigs without glycine supplementation during any experimental period. By d 120 of age, the body weight of IUGR pigs with glycine supplementation did not differ (P > 0.05) from that of NBW pigs. Collectively, our results indicate that dietary supplementation with 1% glycine (a low-cost supplement) beneficially improves their growth rate and economic returns. Supported by a USDA/NIFA grant.
PSIII-3 The effects of feeding milk from a nipple or a bucket on performance, blood metabolism, rumen fermentation and behavior of dairy calves during preweaning period
Authors: Liu Shuai , Bayindaoerji Saiergelin , Wang Jingjun , Li Shengli
Published: December 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two milk feeding methods on performance, blood metabolism, rumen fermentation and behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Forty newborn Holstein female calves were assigned to one of two treatments equally: nipple feeding (NF) and bucket feeding (BF). Gradual weaning commenced on d 35 and weaning occurred on d 56. Starter intake, fecal scoring, body weight and structural measurements (withers height, heart girth, abdominal girth, body length) were collected. Blood samples and Rumen fluid samples were collected on day 28 and 56, respectively. Ten calves from each treatment were selected randomly and instantaneous scan-sampling with 3 min intervals was used to collect the behavior data (licking nipple or bucket, manipulating objects, self-grooming, lying, standing). Observation were conducted twice per week (1 h session duration) and were centered around morning (0900 h), afternoon (1500 h), and evening (1700 h) milk feeding period. Data were analyzed by mixed effect model with treatment, time, and the interaction between them as fixed effects, and animal within treatment as a random effect. Results showed that body weight, average daily gain, starter intake and structural measurements were similar between two treatments. NF group had higher diarrhea frequency than BF group during week 6 (P = 0.03). NF group had higher concentration of insulin (P = 0.01), IGF-1 (P = 0.03) and β-hydroxybutyric acid (P = 0.04) than BF group on d 56. Rumen pH and volatile fatty acids were similar between two treatments. No differences between two treatments for behavior observation were found, except that NF group spent more time licking nipple than BF group (P = 0.001). In conclusion, nipple or bucket feeding had no effects on performance, starter intake and rumen fermentation, yet nipple feeding increased licking time and different feeding methods influenced blood metabolism.
PSVI-4 Modulation of galectin gene expression and secretion in cow blood stimulated with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate
Authors: Ekwemalor Kingsley , Worku Mulumebet
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study was to assess the expression and secretion of galectin gene in cow blood stimulated with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is a phorbol diester that activates the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC). Activated PKC is associated with regulation of inflammation. Galectins (Gal) are β-galactoside binding proteins that modulate inflammation following intra and extra-cellular secretion. Blood was collected from the jugular vein of clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 3) from North Carolina A&T diary unit. Individual samples were treated with either 10ng/ml of PMA or Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 30 minutes at 370 C. Total RNA was isolated from blood, pooled and transcribed to cDNA, for real-time PCR. Cow specific primers LGALS -1, -2, -3, -4, -7, -8, -9, -12 were designed using the NCBI Primer 3 tool. Housekeeping genes RPLP0 and UCHL5 were used for normalization. Fold change was calculated using the Livak method (Fold change >2 were considered as significant). Secretion of GAL -1, -2, -3, -4, -8, -9 was assessed using bovine GAL specific ELISA kits. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using SAS version 9.4. Treatment with PMA up regulated the transcription of LGALS -2, -4, -8, (2.28, 2.36, 2.39 folds respectively) and down regulated the transcription of LGALS -9 (-5.04 fold). Transcription of LGALS -1, -3, -7, 12 remained unchanged. All tested GAL were secreted. Treatment with PMA increased the secretion level of GAL -1, -3, -4 and decreased the secretion level of GAL -2, -4, -9 (P > 0.05). Thus, activation of PKC differentially modulates galectin gene expression and secretion in cow blood. The observed differences in treatment and control groups warrant further studies.
PSVI-14 Differentially expressed microRNAs with potential regulatory roles in ileum of Holstein cows with subclinical Johne’s disease
Authors: Wang Mengqi , Bissonnette Nathalie , Griebel Philip , Dudemaine Pier-Luc , Do Duy N , Mao Yongjiang , Ibeagha-Awemu Eveline M
Published: December 2019

Paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestinal tract of ruminants. The mechanisms of JD pathogenesis remain unclear but MAP can cause chronic inflammatory lesions in the terminal small intestine of cattle. Using microRNA (miRNA) transcriptome analysis, this study investigated the impact of MAP infection on miRNA expression and their potential regulatory roles in JD progression. Ileal tissues were collected from MAP infected Holstein cows (n = 5) and healthy cows (n = 5). Purified total RNA were used to construct libraries followed by next generation sequencing, bioinformatic processing using a standard pipeline, differential miRNA expression analysis with DESeq2 software, and functional enrichment with ClueGo app in Cytoscape. A total of 269 miRNAs were expressed in ileal tissue including three abundantly expressed miRNAs (Bta-miR-143; 54.05% of total read counts), bta-miR-145 (11.54%) and bta-miR-192 (4.31%)). Twenty miRNAs were significantly (P < 0.05) differently expressed (DE) when comparing ileal tissues from MAP infected and uninfected cows. Bta-miR-383 (fold change = -12.93) and bta-miR-1842 (fold-change = 8.17) were the most down- and up-regulated miRNAs, respectively. Amongst the DE miRNAs, bta-miR-146a, bta-miR-146b and bta-miR-393 are inflammation-related miRNAs and considered potential biomarkers of bovine mastitis and other diseases, while bta-miR-370 and bta-miR-383 are associated with lipid metabolism. The predicted target genes of DE miRNAs were enriched (P < 0.05) for gene ontology terms related to regulation of metabolic, cell and developmental processes, and immune system development. KEGG pathway analysis revealed potential involvement in immune regulation (e.g. T-cell receptor signaling and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathways) and pathways in cancer were also enriched (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that some DE miRNAs play important roles by regulating metabolism and immune processes during JD and provide DE miRNAs that might form targets for future development of intervention measures.
PSIV-6 A real-time monitoring system for composting of livestock manure
Authors: Park Gee-Tae , Kang HyoKon , Na YoungJun , LEE SANGRAK
Published: December 2019

This study was conducted to measure major indices for composting of livestock manure using a real-time ICT equipment. The equipment can receive the data such as temperature, humidity, and electrical conductivity every minute from a compost. Collected data were stored in the server via the wireless sensor nodes and gateways, and automatically visualized to observe the status of compost as graphs. A total of 9 fixed ventilation type vessels (height, 200 cm; diameter, 30 cm; thickness, 2 cm) made of PVC material were designed to inject external air using a ring blower (KJB1-1500, KIJEONSA Co., Republic of Korea) through the vent at lower part of vessel. Cattle manure that piled approximately 75 kg into each vessel, with injecting external air as 15 L/min and the change of each factor was measured and recorded for 15 days. Sensors (5TE, METER Group Inc., USA) were put through holes at 20, 105, and 190 cm from the bottom of each vessel. The measured values were different depending on the position of the sensor. For example, at 17:00 on September 15, 2018, the humidity in the Vessel 1 was top 1.4 %, middle 47.7 %, and bottom 91.1 %. The electrical conductivity was top zero, middle 4.69 dS/m and bottom 13.24 dS/m, and the temperature was top 46.0 ℃, middle 31.7 ℃ and bottom was 22.9 ℃ at 13:15 on September 9, 2018. Because differences were detected by the measurement position in the same compost during the composting period, the location of the sensor was important for measurement of composting. Overall, continuous and real-time monitoring was possible to measure fermentation parameters during the composting process by the real-time ICT equipment. Therefore, this system can be utilized for monitoring for optimal livestock manure decomposition model.
PSII-17 Impact of forage diversity on animal production, forage productivity and nutritive value, emissions, and soil C/N cycling
Authors: Thompson Logan R , Maciel Isabella Cristina F , Cassida Kim , Rowntree Jason
Published: December 2019

The study objective was to compare animal performance, enteric methane production, forage productivity, and soil GHG flux of two grazing systems: 1) A botanically diverse, mixed-species pasture (COMP), and 2) A simple alfalfa:orchardgrass system (SIMP). Fifty-six steers (BW = 318.29 ± 37.58 kg) were adapted to a GreenFeed Emission Measurement System (GEM; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) and stratified into treatments based on acclimation. Each treatment consisted of 4 paddocks, three 3.2 ha and one 1.6 ha paddock, with 8 steers and 4 steers each, respectively. Animals grazed for 104 d from June to October 2018, and shrunk BW was recorded at the onset of grazing and every 50 d thereafter to determine ADG. Soil CO2, CH4, and N2O flux was measured at the beginning and end of the grazing season using 10 static chambers in 3 paddocks/trt for 5 d post-grazing. Forage production was measured bi-weekly in pre- and post-grazed sub-paddocks, and forage quality was analyzed using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Crude Protein content was lower in COMP than SIMP pastures (15.93% vs. 18.28%; P < 0.0001) and NDF content (41.51% vs. 43.63%, for COMP and SIMP; P = 0.0032). Enteric methane production was significantly lower for COMP steers (167.7 g/d vs. 209.38 g/d for COMP and SIMP; P < 0.0001) and emission intensity (g CH4/kg LWG; 158.65 vs. 200.6 for COMP and SIMP; P < 0.0001). Methane yield did not differ between COMP and SIMP treatments (5.37 vs. 5.03%, respectively; P > 0.05), but were 17 and 23% lower than current IPCC tier II recommended Ym values (6.5 ± 1.0%). Animal performance and soil GHG flux did not differ between treatments (P > 0.05). These results indicate that, while both treatments perform well in comparison to IPCC estimates, the COMP trt may result in a lower carbon footprint.
PSI-33 Effect of conditioning temperature and pellet diameter on nursery pig growth performance
Authors: Harrison Olivia , Yoder Ashton , Jones Cassandra K
Published: December 2019

A total of 350 nursery pigs (initially 7.6 kg BW) were used in a 28-d trial to evaluate the effects of conditioning temperature and pellet diameter on nursery pig performance. Pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 treatments with 10 pens/treatment and 5 pigs/pen. The 7 treatments were arranged in a 2×3 factorial design plus a mash control, with the factors of pellet diameter (4.0 mm vs. 4.8 mm), and conditioning temperature (low, medium, vs. high). Phase 1 conditioning temperatures were 54°C, 66°C, and 77°C, while phase 2 conditioning temperatures were 54°C, 71°C, and 88°C for low, medium, and high, respectively. Pigs were fed phase 1 from d 0 to 14, which contained 10% spray dried whey, while phase 2 was fed from d 14 to 28, which did not contain milk products. Pig weights and feed disappearance were recorded weekly to determine ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with pen as the experimental unit. Pellet diameter did not impact (P > 0.05) nursery pig growth performance. Pigs fed pelleted diets had greater (P < 0.05) G:F than those fed mash diets. During phase 1 and overall, there were no significant (P > 0.05) interactive or main effects. However, conditioning phase 2 diets at lower temperatures improved (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F than medium and high conditioning temperatures. In conclusion, pelleting improves nursery pig feed efficiency. To maximize nursery pig feed efficiency, phase 2 diets should be conditioned at relatively low temperatures.
PSVIII-39 Genome-wide DNA methylation alteration in prenatally stressed Brahman heifer calves with the advancement of age
Authors: Cilkiz Kubra Z , Baker Emilie C , Riggs Penny K , Randel Ronald D , Riley David G , Welsh Thomas
Published: December 2019

This study investigated whether DNA methylation patterns changed over the first five yr of life within prenatally stressed (PNS) heifer calves compared to change within a Control group. Prenatal stress was induced by the transportation of pregnant Brahman cows for 2-hr periods at 60±5, 80± 5, 100±5, 120±5, and140±5d of gestation. White blood cells were sampled from the same 6 PNS heifer calves and 8 Control heifer calves at 28 d and 5 yr of age. The DNA methylation data were generated through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. Based on results of mapping and bioinformatics analyses, 73,758 hypermethylated and 73,367 hypomethylated CpG sites, 375 hypermethylated and 377 hypomethylated CHG sites, 735 hypermethylated and 842 hypomethylated CHH (C = cytosine; G = guanine; H = either adenine, thymine, or cytosine) sites were obtained from 28-d-old PNS calves compared to when they had matured into 5-yr-old PNS cows (P ≤ 0.05). The 28-d-old Control heifer calves contained 53,005 hypermethylated and 57,103 hypomethylated CpG sites, 200 hypermethylated and 202 hypomethylated CHG sites, 439 hypermethylated and 535 hypomethylated CHH sites compared to when they matured into 5-yr-old Control cows (P ≤ 0.05). As DNA methylation of gene promoter regions is associated with reduced transcription activity, strongly hypermethylated and hypomethylated CpG sites located in promoter regions underwent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. The top canonical pathways altered by strongly hypermethylated and hypomethylated CpG sites between 28-d-old and 5-yr-old PNS cows were 4-1BB Signaling in T Lymphocytes (P = 0.00169) and Transcriptional Regulatory Network in Embryonic Stem Cells (P = 0.000744). Mineralocorticoid Biosynthesis (P = 0.00901) and Transcriptional Regulatory Network in Embryonic Stem Cells (P = 0.000804) were the other top canonical pathways altered between 28-d-old and 5-yr-old Control cows. PNS calves appeared to develop an altered epigenome compared to Control group calves during the first five yr from birth.
PSV-32 Influence of chlorate and chlorate plus molybdate on the growth of multi-drug resistant staphylococci
Authors: Ruiz Oscar , Castillo-Castillo Yamicela , Anderson Robin , Hume Michael E , Arzola Claudio , Felix Monserrath , Olivas Ana Luisa , Armendariz Ruth , Carlos Leonardo , Salinas-Chavira Jaime
Published: December 2019

This study was conducted to determine the effects of chlorate, a metabolic precursor of the bactericide chlorite, when administered without or with molybdate, an essential component of a co-enzyme contributing to nitrate reductase conversion of chlorate to chlorite, against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, important mastitic-pathogens of livestock. Two methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (strains CP and 49521) were individually cultured for 12 h at 39o C in nitrate-supplemented (5 mM) ½-strength Brain Heart Infusion broth (10 mL/tube) treated without (control) or with 5 mM chlorate (CL) or 5 mM chlorate plus 1 mM molybdate (CLMO). Control and treated cultures were incubated anaerobically in triplicate and growth was measured via absorbance at 600 nm. An analysis of variance revealed an inhibitory effect of treatments (P < 0.05) on maximum absorbances observed after the 12-h incubation, with maximum absorbances for CP (1.22, 0.10, and 0.46; SEM = 0.12) and 49521 (1.24, 0.22 and 0.06, SEM = 0.09) being higher in controls than in CL- and CLMO-treated cultures, respectively. Similarly, mean specific growth rates of S. aureus CP and 49521 were inhibited (P < 0.05) by both treatments during the first 6 h of growth, with rates being most rapid in control cultures, intermediate in CLMO-treated cultures and slowest in CL-treated cultures (0.68, 0.27 and 0.03 h-1, SEM= 0.15; and 0.92, 0.47 and 0.09 h-1, SEM = 0.08; for CP and 40521, respectively). Growth rates did not differ (P > 0.05) between controls or treatments during the last 6 h of incubation, averaging 0.74 and 0.75 h-1 for both CP and 49521 (SEM = 0.20 and 0.22, respectively). These results confirm that chlorate treatment inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains CP and 49521 although moderate adaption by these strains began to occur after 6 h incubation which, contrary to expectation, was not overcome by co-treatment with molybdate.