bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
283 Investigating molecular changes in juvenile rainbow trout muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy over time
Authors: Udoka Aliute Nkoyo S , Kronlein Niklas , Griggs Logan , Schrimsher Aubrey , Duckett Susan K 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Farmed rainbow trout require specific cold, freshwater habitations to maximize overall growth for future release and general production. The growth and development of muscle tissue in rainbow trout are critical factors in understanding and maximizing the production and quality of farmed fish. Unlike mammals, rainbow trout can undergo muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy throughout its lifetime, which only adds to its muscle growth potential as a species. This study aimed to investigate the growth patterns and gene expression changes in red, pink, and white muscle tissue over time in farmed rainbow trout. Twenty rainbow trout were harvested at 6 and 7 mo of age from the Walhalla State Hatchery (SC), and red, pink, and white muscle samples were collected in RNAlater for RNA extraction and downstream gene expression analysis. General growth pattern changes were assessed through measurements of wet body weight, wet length, empty carcass weight, and filet weight, while gene expression changes were examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Genes such as PAX7A, PAX7B, MYOG, MYOD, IGF1, and IGF2B were investigated to illuminate dynamic changes in the muscle tissue of rainbow trout. These genes are associated with myogenic regulatory factors involved in muscle growth and development. Water and ambient temperature were captured to monitor potential temperature effects. Wet weight (g) and left filet weight (g) increased (P &lt; 0.05) over the 30-d period. PAX7A, PAX7B, and MYOG were all downregulated (P &lt; 0.05) in red and pink muscle in comparison to the previous 30 d. White muscle displayed no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in expression of PAX7A, PAX7B, and MYOG. IGF1 gene expression in red, pink and white muscle were downregulated (P &lt; 0.05) over the 30 d. MYOD had a very low expression in comparison with other target genes during these age points. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of muscle growth in rainbow trout and the importance of red and pink muscle dynamics. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle growth and gene expression changes over time can inform strategies to optimize fish growth and meat quality in aquaculture systems. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the specific regulatory pathways involved in muscle development and their potential applications in fish farming.
282 Effects of granddam poor maternal nutrition during gestation on second generation offspring oxidative status in circulation and skeletal muscle
Authors: Reiter Amanda S , Kawaida Mia Y , Tillquist Nicole M , Govoni Kristen E , Zinn Steven A , Reed Sarah A 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Poor maternal nutrition (under- or over-feeding) during gestation negatively impacts antioxidant activity and oxidative stress markers in first generation (F1) offspring. To determine if these alterations persist into subsequent generations, multiparous Dorset ewes (F0; n = 46) pregnant with twins were fed 100% (CON), 60% (RES), or 140% (OVER) of total nutrient requirements (NRC) from d 30 of gestation until parturition. At 16 to 19 mo of age, F1 ewes (n = 37) were maintained on a control diet and bred to generate second generation offspring (F2; CON-F2, RES-F2, OVER-F2 corresponding to F0 diet). At 112 and 224 d of age, plasma samples were collected from F2 offspring, and at d 284 semitendinosus (STN) samples were collected from rams at necropsy and muscle biopsies in ewes. Data were analyzed in SAS using PROC MIXED where significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05. Circulating superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased by 21% and 25% in RES-F2 and OVER-F2 offspring, respectively, compared with CON-F2 (P &lt; 0.0001). Plasma SOD activity was 17% less at d 224 than d 112 (P &lt; 0.0001). Ewes had 9% greater circulating SOD activity compared with rams (P = 0.03). Muscle SOD activity was 31% and 35% greater in CON-F2 compared with RES-F2 and OVER-F2 offspring, respectively (P ≤ 0.003). Rams had 26% greater STN SOD activity than ewes (P = 0.006). Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was 14% greater in CON-F2 than RES-F2 and OVER-F2 offspring (P ≤ 0.003). Circulating GPx activity was 14% less at d 224 than d 112 (P &lt; 0.0001). Muscle GPx activity was 39% and 35% greater in CON-F2 offspring compared with RES-F2 and OVER-F2, respectively (P &lt; 0.0001). Ewes had 11% and 16% greater GPx activity in circulation and STN, respectively, than rams (P ≤ 0.005). Plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were 18% and 10% greater in RES-F2 and OVER-F2 offspring, respectively, than CON-F2 (P = 0.004). Circulating MDA concentrations were 20% greater at d 224 compared with d 112 (P &lt; 0.0001). Concentrations of MDA in STN were increased in RES-F2 and OVER-F2 offspring by 36% and 50%, respectively, compared with CON-F2 (P ≤ 0.006). Ewes had 87% greater concentrations of MDA in STN compared with rams (P &lt; 0.0001). Circulating protein carbonyl (PC) concentrations were 16% greater in RES-F2 offspring than CON-F2 and OVER-F2 (P ≤ 0.04). Plasma PC concentrations were 9% greater at d 224 compared with d 112 (P = 0.04). The concentrations of PC in STN were 81% and 69% greater in RES-F2 and OVER-F2 rams, respectively, compared with CON-F2 rams (P ≤ 0.0001). Alterations in oxidative status persist into the F2 generation and may impact muscle growth and metabolism.
426 Effects of maternal nutritional restriction on beef cattle fetal metabolism
Authors: Odhiambo John F , Elder Kasey , Lemley Caleb O 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Cellular respiration is the metabolic process that breaks down glucose by use of oxygen to produce ATP. It consists of three main steps: glycolysis, the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation provides most of the ATP for body functions. If oxidative phosphorylation is downregulated, then cellular metabolism will be disrupted. The objective of this study was to identify the cellular pathways impacted by maternal nutrient restriction in beef cattle. A total of 36 fetuses were examined: 18 fetuses from dams that were given either a restricted (RES) or an adequate (ADQ) diet from d 160 to 240 of gestation. At d 240 of gestation, dams underwent Cesarean section for fetal removal, morphometrics, blood and tissue collection. Liver tissue samples were sequenced via Illumina platforms and analyzed by DESeq2, while the screening threshold was set at |log2(FoldChange)| &gt;= 1 and padj &lt;= 0.05. Enrichment analysis of the differential expressed genes (DEGs) was performed by annotating genes to biological processes (Gene Ontology terms) and metabolic pathways (KEGG pathways). Genes with an adjusted P-value ≤ 0.05 were assigned as differentially expressed. Morphometrics data was evaluated by mixed procedures of SAS and significant was declared at P &lt; 0.10. There was a significant group effect of the fetal necropsy weights (25.5 ± 0.55 vs 23.0 ± 0.60, kg, for ADQ and RES respectively, P &lt; 0.02). Further, there was a significant group effect on the fetal liver weights (485.20 ± 29.19 vs 394.90 ± 29.19 g, for ADQ and RES, respectively, P &lt; 0.07). RES fetuses exhibited 704 uniquely expressed genes compared with ADQ fetuses that showed 304 uniquely expressed genes. However, 13,145 genes were co-expressed by RES and ADQ Fetuses. A total of 2,327 genes were identified as differentially regulated between the groups. Of these 1,106 genes were up-regulated and 1,221 are down-regulated in RES vs. ADQ fetuses. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed downregulation of key enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation specifically in complexes I, II, III and IV. Thus, downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation is a potential mechanism by which maternal restriction retards fetal growth and development as seen in this project. Funded by NIFA CBG # 2021-38821-34599.
170 Understanding how zinc and manganese interact with the hormones found in anabolic implants to alter growth of bovine satellite cells
Authors: Thornton-Kurth Kara J , Alberto Anthony F , Hansen Stephanie L 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
It has been well established in both in vitro and in vivo models that the hormones found in anabolic implants [estradiol (E2) and trenbolone acetate (TBA)] positively impact skeletal muscle growth. Previous research has demonstrated that treating primary bovine satellite cells (BSC) with E2 or TBA results in increases in proliferation and protein synthesis and decreases in protein degradation, leading to enhanced skeletal muscle growth. This improved skeletal muscle growth occurs through partially defined pathways, but many unknowns remain. More recently, research has emerged demonstrating that strategic supplementation of specific trace minerals (TM) may further augment the positive effects of E2 and TBA on skeletal muscle growth. There are many ways through which the complex signaling pathways induced by the hormones found in anabolic implants may interact with TM to further enhance skeletal muscle growth. Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) are two of the TM that we have recently investigated. Zinc is the most utilized metal in biological processes and supports animal growth through critical roles in the functions of IGF-1, GH, and DNA synthesis. Manganese is an essential TM providing catalytic activity to enzymes involved in protein glycosylation, nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant capacity. However, additional research is needed to determine if hormones and TM interact to impact growth of skeletal muscle, specifically. As such, the goal of recent research that has been conducted by our group is to utilize an in vitro primary BSC model to determine whether hormones and TM interact to alter differentiation and protein synthesis. Preliminary research from our group assesses the impacts of varying, physiological concentrations of Zn or Mn on differentiation and protein synthesis of primary BSC cultures that have also been treated with or without the hormones found in anabolic implants. These preliminary findings demonstrate that while there seems to be no interaction between Zn and hormones in differentiating BSC, supplemental Zn on the higher end of physiologically relevant concentrations has a positive effect on signaling pathways involved in growth, protein turnover, skeletal muscle differentiation, and mineral transporters. However, it appears that Zn and Mn each interact with hormones to positively augment protein synthesis in primary BSC cultures. A deeper understanding of the relationship these TM and others may have with hormones will allow for more strategic supplementation practices that can potentially improve skeletal muscle growth.
171 Examining the role of vitamin E in ruminant livestock growth and production
Authors: Reichhardt Caleb C 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Vitamin E is necessary for health, growth, and reproduction in livestock. However, vitamin E requirements and supplement strategies for optimal livestock production and performance are poorly understood, and the role that it plays in skeletal muscle growth has not been thoroughly explored. Ideal vitamin E requirements for optimal skeletal muscle growth have yet to be identified in beef cattle or sheep. Because skeletal muscle growth is important for meat production in livestock, a more thorough understanding of postnatal skeletal muscle growth and the relationship with vitamin E is necessary. The goal of this presentation is to discuss what we currently understand about vitamin E and the relationship it has with skeletal muscle growth in ruminant livestock. This presentation will discuss previous research relating to vitamin E supplementation in beef cattle and sheep, and the resulting impacts on growth and production. Additionally, emerging research using both in vivo and in vitro methods to further explore the relationship between vitamin E and skeletal muscle growth and production of beef cattle and sheep will be presented.
57 In vitro degradation kinetics of protein and starch from equine feedstuffs (corn, beet pulp, oat hulls, soybean meal, whey, timothy, and alfalfa hay)
Authors: Cargo-Froom Cara L , Nosworthy Matthew , Darani Priska , Darani Sharifa , Cieslar Scott , Ellis Jennifer L 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Meaningful progress can be made in the field of equine nutrition through improved feed characterization and the development of in vitro nutritional models to describe nutrient degradation. The objective of this study was to assess at which time point macronutrient degradation reached plateau when equine feedstuffs were digested using a static two-step enzymatic digest. Prior to addition of any enzymes, 10 g of each ingredient was weighed in triplicate into digestion vessels and hydrated with 50 mL water. To initiate gastric digestion, 60 mL of 0.1M hydrochloric acid-pepsin solution (pH 2) was added to the digestion vessels and incubated for 2 h at 39℃ under constant mixing. The liquid fractions of the digestions were sampled at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 60, 90 and 120 min. Post-gastric digestion, samples were neutralized with 1 M sodium hydroxide and raised to a pH of 6.8. To initiate small intestinal digestion, 42 mL of a pancreatin-phosphate buffer (pH of 6.8) was added to the digestion vessels and incubated for 18 h at 39℃ under constant mixing. The liquid fractions of the digestions were sampled at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min and thereafter hourly up until the end of digestion (1,020 min). Liquid samples were analyzed for glucose via GOPOD kit to determine starch degradation and crude protein via combustion (LECO) and o-phthalaldehyde assay to determine protein degradation. A modified Chapmans-Richard (first order kinetics) model was fit to the time point data to determine the immediately soluble fraction, the degradable fraction, the degradation rate (Kd) of the degradable fraction, and the undegradable fraction (from the plateau point) of each ingredient. The rate and plateau were estimated for each ingredient by nonlinear regression procedures, that included a boundary of ≤ 100% for the plateaus (Table 1). Corn did not reach a plateau for glucose released; as such, the kinetic model could not be fit to the data points. The ingredients with the greatest and least rates of starch degradation were alfalfa hay (5.36 %/min) and oat hulls (0.11 %/min), respectively. The ingredients with the greatest and least rates of protein degradation were oat hulls (0.379 %/min) and whey (0.004 %/min), respectively. These preliminary results will be used to adjust the in vitro protocol used herein, as it is part of a larger project aiming to characterize the degradation of a wider collection of equine feedstuffs, with these degradation parameter profiles being used as inputs to a mechanistic digestion model. This combination of in vitro techniques and modelling will be advantageous in optimizing equine nutrition.
73 Awardee Talk: Recent updates in dark-cutting beef color research
Authors: Ramanathan Ranjith , Harr Keayla M , Kiyimba Frank , Pfeiffer Morgan , Mafi Gretchen G 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Meat color is an important sensory property influencing purchasing decisions and the value of the product during grading. Any deviation from a bright red color, especially in beef, leads to economic losses. Dark-cutting beef is a color deviation in which beef fails to have a bright red color. The dark-cutting condition has a worldwide occurrence. The dark-cutting condition in the US results in $210 million annually. The current talk will focus on recent advances in basic and applied research in dark-cutting beef color. The proteomics and metabolomics research showed that glycolytic proteins and metabolites are less abundant in dark-cutting beef than normal-pH beef. Interestingly, dark-cutting beef has greater mitochondrial protein content than normal-pH beef. Although the mechanistic basis for increased mitochondrial content is unclear, we speculate that higher energy demand pre-slaughter contributes to increased mitochondrial biogenesis. This metabolic alteration plays a critical role in detriments of substrate metabolism in dark-cutting beef muscles, contributing to aberrant postmortem pH decline. In recent research, we compared metabolomic and lipidomic profiles using different shades of dark-cutting beef, such as mild, moderate, and severe, demonstrating that metabolite and lipid profiles vary significantly between normal and severe dark-cutting samples. However, there were not many differences between mild and moderate. Applied research to improve dark-cutting beef has utilized various post-harvest practices such as modified atmospheric packaging, enhancement, nitrite-embedded film, and high-pressure processing. The use of modified atmospheric packaging and antioxidant enhancement reversed the dark color of steaks. Recently, we have demonstrated that high-pressure processing (HPP) of strip loin steaks can reverse dark color when packaged in PVC overwrap. Dark-cutting steaks processed with 300 MPa (megapascal pressure) for 90 sec using chilled water (6 to 10 °C) immediately improved redness and had similar redness as USDA Choice steak on d 3 of retail storage. In addition, dark-cutters maintained a brighter red color than normal-pH USDA Choice during retail display (hence, less loss due to meat discoloration). The trained panelists also noticed no taste, flavor, or tenderness differences between USDA-Choice and dark-cutters applied with 300 MPa. The application of HPP allows aerobic overwrap polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging with no use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) trays. In summary, understanding the fundamental basis helps to elucidate the etiology of dark-cutting beef occurrence, while applied research helps to improve the value of dark-cutting beef.
80 Empowering informed choices: How computer vision can assist consumers in making decisions about meat quality
Authors: Menezes Guilherme , Junior Dante , Ferreira Rafael , Oliveira Dario , Araujo Julcimara , Duarte Marcio S , Dórea Joao R R 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Consumer perception of meat quality is highly influenced by meat tenderness and juiciness. Artificial intelligence technology, such as computer vision systems (CVS), can be a powerful tool to predict such meat attributes in retail markets and help consumers make informed decisions. This study aimed to develop a CVS using smartphone images to classify beef steaks and pork chops tenderness (1), predicting shear-force (SF) and intramuscular fat (IMF) content (2), and performing a comparative evaluation between consumer assessments and the CVS (3). The dataset for beef steak consisted of 915 images (one image per steak), with 691 in the training set, 82 in the validation set, and 142 in the testing set. For pork, there were 514 images (one image per chop), distributed as 377 in the training set, 80 in the validation set, and 57 in the testing set. We trained deep neural networks (Xception), pretrained on the ImageNet dataset, for image classification and regression. The tenderness of the steaks was categorized based on Warner-Bratzler shear-force (N) as tender, intermediate, and tough. To achieve the third object, 1,000 pairwise comparisons were drawn from the 142 testing set images, where both consumers and the CVS performed predictions on tender and tough meat. The option with the least SF in each pair was identified as the most tender meat, with ground truth established using SF measurements. The same pairs were presented to meat consumers through a survey. For classifying beef as tender and tough, the algorithms demonstrated F1-scores of 68.1% and 70.8%, respectively. However, intermediate meat yielded worse results, with an F1-score of 36.4%. The dataset was subsequently re-categorized into two classes: tender and tough, with all intermediate steaks classified as tough, and resulted in an F1-score of 76.6% for tough meat. For classifying pork chops as tender and tough, the algorithms demonstrated F1-scores of 81.4% and 85.7%, respectively. The intermediate class in pork chops also exhibited worse results, with an F1-score of 24.0%. After re-categorizing the dataset into two classes, the F1-score for classifying pork chops as tough was 83.9%. The regression model predicted SF in beef steak and pork chops with R2 of 0.64 and 0.76, and RMSEP of 16.9 N and 9.15 N, respectively. The regression model, after analyzing with 1,000 pairwise comparisons, accurately predicted the tenderest steak with an accuracy of 76.5%. In contrast, human recognition of meat tenderness achieved an average accuracy of 46.7% for beef steak. To predict IMF in beef steaks and pork chops the model achieved R2 values of 0.61 and 0.54, and RMSEP of 2.6% and 1.22%, respectively. These findings suggest that CVS can provide a more objective method for evaluating meat tenderness and IMF before purchase, potentially enhancing consumer satisfaction.
79 Microbiological effects of control measures during pork production
Authors: Yang Xianqin , Wang Hui , Tran Frances , McAllister Tim A , Stanford Kim 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 and efficacy of control measures at a pork processing facility. Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 associated with pork, though not common globally, have been reported multiple times in recent years in Alberta. Sampling at a commercial facility processing hogs was carried out at monthly intervals for 11 mo. At the facility, the dressed carcasses are sprayed with 5% lactic acid (LA) and immediately air-chilled after the LA spray. At each sampling time, 14 different types of samples were collected: dirt from the holding pen floor (n = 2), gloves of workers (n = 5), scalding water (n = 1), tonsils (n = 5), cecal material (n = 5), five swabs each from hides of animals after bleeding (HAB), and carcasses after scalding (CAS), before evisceration (CBE), after evisceration (CAE), before LA spray (BLA), after LA spray (ALA), 1h after LA spray (ALA1), 2h after LA spray (ALA2), and after chilling (ACH). All samples were enumerated for total plate count (TPC), Enterobacteriaceae, and E. coli using specific media for each. In addition, an aliquot of each sample was enriched and tested for the presence of the O-antigen gene (rfbE) for E. coli O157 and Shiga toxin-producing gene (stx1/stx2) using real-time PCR. Cultures positive for both rfbE and stx were further plated for the isolation of E. coli O157:H7. Of the 683 enrichment cultures, 12 were positive for both marker genes, from cecal material (n = 2), dirt (n = 4) and HAB (n = 6). However, none of these samples yielded STEC O157 isolates. Of these enrichment cultures, 69, 45 and 32 were positive for stx1, stx2, and both stx genes, respectively. Positive samples were mostly associated with HAB, cecal material and dirt. HAB was most and least contaminated in August/June and December, differing by 1 log unit for TPC (P &lt; 0.05). Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli on HAB were also affected by month of sampling (P &lt; 0.05), but this temporal trend differed from TPC (Table). The numbers for TPC, Enterobacteriaceae, and E. coli all decreased (P &lt; 0.05) as the stage of carcass processing progressed. The overall reduction of TPC and E. coli was 7 and 5 log units, respectively. Scalding, LA spray and air chilling all reduced (P &lt; 0.05) the numbers of indicator bacteria on carcasses. Of the 55 samples each collected from BLA, ALA, ALA1, ALA2, and ACH, 36, 13, 2, 1 and 0 were positive for E. coli, respectively. In conclusion, pork processing environments can be contaminated with STEC from hides, feces and holding pen, but levels of STEC O157 appear to be low. Scalding, LA spray and air chilling can be effective measures to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination of pork.