On the Sensitivity of Return to Schooling Estimates to Estimation Methods, Model Specification, and Influential Outliers If Identification Is Weak

We provide a comparison of return to schooling estimates based on an influential study by Angrist and Krueger (1991) using two stage least squares (TSLS), limited information maximum likelihood (LIML), jackknife (JIVE), and split sample instrumental variables (SSIV) estimation. We find that the estimated return to education is quite sensitive to the age controls used in the models as well as the estimation method used. In particular, we provide evidence that JIVE coefficients' standard errors are inflated by a group of extreme years of education observations, for which identification is especially weak. We propose to use Cook's Distance in order to identify influential outliers having substantial influence on first-stage JIVE coefficients and fitted values.Cook's Distance, heteroskedasticity, outliers, return to education, specification, weak instruments

Introduction and Establishment of Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the Control of Salvinia minima Baker (Salviniaceae), and Interspecies Interactions Possibly Limiting Successful Control in Louisiana

Common salvinia, Salvinia minima Baker, is a floating aquatic invasive macrophyte that obstructs waterways and causes problems in wetlands across Louisiana and Texas. The salvinia weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands, has been released in over 14 countries around the world for the biological control of Salvinia spp. We successfully monitored the introduction and establishment of C. salviniae on S. minima in southern Louisiana between 2006 and 2010. Cyrtobagous salviniae significantly lowered the biomass of S. minima and increased the number of terminal buds damaged but had no significant impact on pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, surface temperature, percent of surface coverage, or percent of the mat that was green. Restricting access to the S. minima mat from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, significantly increased the number of C. salviniae, suggesting that S. invicta should be controlled where possible to maximize the success of the biological control program. While collecting arthropods associated with S. minima, we identified 5,773 individuals that represent 176 species within 62 families and seven orders including four currently undescribed species, and seven species of semi]aquatic Curculionidae (five of which have been used in biological control programs). We collected higher numbers of taxa than previous studies, but most of the species are previously known as hydro] or hygrophilous, indicating the differences may have been due to collection methods. Collecting locations were clustered into five groups based on secondary aquatic vegetation and evaluated by cluster for community composition and similarity. We found no support for the spatial heterogeneity hypothesis, as our most diverse community is one of the least spatially complex, suggesting other factors are affecting community composition. Findings included successful establishment of C. salviniae, recommendation to control S. invicta around C. salviniae release sites, improved methods for collecting insects associated with floating aquatic vegetation, and contributions to the knowledge of the biodiversity of Louisianafs backwater swamps. In addition to providing new information on interactions between C. salviniae and S. minima, these studies will be useful in designing,evaluating, and monitoring releases of other biological control agents on floating aquatic macrophytes

Field evaluation of potential pheromone lures for Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the Mid-South

Field screening of lures in the Midsouth USA indicated that the lure containing hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal(4:10:7) was the most effective at collecting Lygus lineolaris, and collected similar numbers of individuals to traps baited with live virgin insects over a similar period of time in other studies

Growing up with a mother with depression: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

The aim of this study was to explore the childhood experience of living with a parent with depression from a retrospective point of view. Five women between 39 and 47 years of age, who grew up with a mother with depression, were interviewed about their current perspectives on their childhood experiences. Interviews were semi-structured and the data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data analysis led to a narrative organized in two parts. The first part (retrospective understanding of childhood experiences) reports on feelings of desolation contrasted to exceptional support, context-related dwelling on own experiences, and growing into a caring role as a way to keep standing. The second part (towards an integration of childhood experiences in adult realities) evidences ongoing processes of growing understanding of the situation at home, coping with own vulnerabilities, making the difference in their current family life and finding balance in the continued bond with the parents. This retrospective investigation of adults’ perspectives on their childhood experiences gave access to aspects of their experience that remain underexposed in research based on data from children and adolescents

A New Genus of Agathidinae with the Description of a New Species Parasitic on \u3cem\u3eSamea Multiplicalis\u3c/em\u3e (Guenée)

A new genus of Agathidinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Neothlipsis, is proposed to include 10 species. Nine of these species were formerly included in the polyphyletic genus Therophilus Wesmael 1837, formerly referred to as Bassus. A new species, Neothlipsis parysae, parasitic on Samea multiplicalis (Guenée), is described. The ten described species transferred to Neothlipsis are:, Neothlipsis agathoides, comb. n. for Bassus agathoides Newton and Sharkey 2000; Neothlipsis agilis, comb. n. for Bassus agilis Cresson 1868; Neothlipsis brevicauda, comb. n. for Bassus brevicaudus Muesebeck 1932; Neothlipsis californica, comb. n. for Bassus californicus Muesebeck 1927; Neothlipsis cincta, comb. n. for Microdus cinctus Cresson 1873; Neothlipsis coleophorae, comb. n. for Bassus coleophorae Rowher 1915; Neothlipsis discolor, comb. n. for Microdus discolor Cresson 1873; Neothlipsis nigricoxa, comb. n. for Microdus nigricoxus Provancher 1886; Neothlipsis petiolate, comb. n. for Bassus petiolatus Muesebeck 1932; Neothlipsis taeniativentris, comb. n. for Microdus taeniativentris Enderlein 1920. Phylogenetic analyses support the sister relationship between the new genus and Camptothlipsis. The type material of the new species is deposited at the Hymenoptera Institute Collection at the University of Kentucky, the United States National Museum, the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, and the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum

Methyl donor supply to heat stress-challenged polymorphonuclear leukocytes from lactating Holstein cows enhances 1-carbon metabolism, immune response, and cytoprotective gene network abundance

[EN] Mechanisms controlling immune function of dairy cows are dysregulated during heat stress (HS). Methyl donor supply-methionine (Met) and choline (Chop-positively modulates innate immune function, particularly antioxidant systems of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Met and Chol supply in vitro on mRNA abundance of genes related to 1-carbon metabolism, inflammation, and immune function in short-term cultures of PMN isolated from mid-lactating Holstein cows in response to heat challenge. Blood PMN were isolated from 5 Holstein cows (153 +/- 5 d postpartum, 34.63 +/- 2.73 kg/d of milk production; mean +/- SD). The PMN were incubated for 2 h at thermal-neutral (37 degrees C; TN) or heat stress (42 degrees C; HS) temperatures with 3 levels of Chol (0, 400, or 800 mu g/mL) or 3 ratios of Lys:Met (Met; 3.6:1, 2.9:1, or 2.4:1). Supernatant concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured via bovine-specific ELISA. Fold-changes in mRNA abundance were calculated separately for Chol and Met treatments to obtain the fold-change response at 42 degrees C (HS) relative to 37 degrees C (TN). Data were subjected to ANOVA using PROC MIXED in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine the linear or quadratic effect of Met and Chol for mRNA fold-change and supernatant cytokine concentrations. Compared with PMN receiving 0 mu g of Chol/mL, heat-stressed PMN supplemented with Chol at 400 or 800 mu g/mL had greater fold-change in abundance of CBS, CSAD, GSS, GSR, and GPX1. Among genes associated with inflammation and immune function, fold-change in abundance of TLR2, TLR4, IRAK1, IL1B, and IL10 increased with 400 and 800 mu g of Chol/mL compared with PMN receiving 0 mu g of Chol/mL. Fold-change in abundance of SAHH decreased linearly at increasing levels of Met supply. A linear effect was detected for MPO, NFKB1, and SOD1 due to greater fold-change in abundance when Met was increased to reach Lys: Met ratios of 2.9:1 and 2.4:1. Although increasing Chol supply upregulated BAX, BCL2, and HSP70, increased Met supply only upregulated BAX. Under HS conditions, enhancing PMN supply of Chol to 400 mu g/mL effectively increased fold-change in abundance of genes involved in antioxidant production (conferring cellular processes protection from free radicals and reactive oxygen species), inflammatory signaling, and innate immunity. Although similar outcomes were obtained with Met supply at Lys:Met ratios of 2.9:1 and 2.4:1, the response was less pronounced. Both Chol and Met supply enhanced the cytoprotective characteristics of PMN through upregulation of heat shock proteins. Overall, the modulatory effects detected in the present experiment highlight an opportunity to use Met and particularly Chol supplementation during thermal stress.M. Vailati-Riboni was supported in part by Hatch funds under project ILLU-538-914, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Washington, DC). The authors declare no conflict of interest.Lopreiato, V.; Vailati-Riboni, M.; Parys, C.; Fernández Martínez, CJ.; Minuti, A.; Loor, J. (2020). Methyl donor supply to heat stress-challenged polymorphonuclear leukocytes from lactating Holstein cows enhances 1-carbon metabolism, immune response, and cytoprotective gene network abundance. Journal of Dairy Science. 103(11):10477-10493. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18638S104771049310311Abdelmegeid, M. K., Vailati-Riboni, M., Alharthi, A., Batistel, F., & Loor, J. J. (2017). Supplemental methionine, choline, or taurine alter in vitro gene network expression of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from neonatal Holstein calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(4), 3155-3165. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-12025Armentano, L. E., Bertics, S. J., & Ducharme, G. A. (1997). Response of Lactating Cows to Methionine or Methionine Plus Lysine Added to High Protein Diets Based on Alfalfa and Heated Soybeans. Journal of Dairy Science, 80(6), 1194-1199. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(97)76047-8Banerjee, R., Evande, R., Kabil, Ö., Ojha, S., & Taoka, S. (2003). Reaction mechanism and regulation of cystathionine β-synthase. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, 1647(1-2), 30-35. doi:10.1016/s1570-9639(03)00044-xBatistel, F., Arroyo, J. M., Bellingeri, A., Wang, L., Saremi, B., Parys, C., … Loor, J. J. (2017). Ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine enhances performance during the periparturient period and early lactation in Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(9), 7455-7467. doi:10.3168/jds.2017-12689Baumgard, L. H., & Rhoads, R. P. (2013). Effects of Heat Stress on Postabsorptive Metabolism and Energetics. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 1(1), 311-337. doi:10.1146/annurev-animal-031412-103644Bernabucci, U., Biffani, S., Buggiotti, L., Vitali, A., Lacetera, N., & Nardone, A. (2014). The effects of heat stress in Italian Holstein dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(1), 471-486. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-6611Bernabucci, U., Lacetera, N., Baumgard, L. H., Rhoads, R. P., Ronchi, B., & Nardone, A. (2010). Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants. Animal, 4(7), 1167-1183. doi:10.1017/s175173111000090xBoldyrev, A., Bryushkova, E., Mashkina, A., & Vladychenskaya, E. (2013). Why Is Homocysteine Toxic for the Nervous and Immune Systems? Current Aging Science, 6(1), 29-36. doi:10.2174/18746098112059990007Catozzi, C., Ávila, G., Zamarian, V., Pravettoni, D., Sala, G., Ceciliani, F., … Lecchi, C. (2020). In-vitro effect of heat stress on bovine monocytes lifespan and polarization. Immunobiology, 225(2), 151888. doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2019.11.023Chinenov, Y., Gupte, R., & Rogatsky, I. (2013). Nuclear receptors in inflammation control: Repression by GR and beyond. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 380(1-2), 55-64. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.04.006Chorąży, M., Kontny, E., Marcinkiewicz, J., & Maśliński, W. (2002). Amino Acids, 23(4), 407-413. doi:10.1007/s00726-002-0204-0Coleman, D. N., Lopreiato, V., Alharthi, A., & Loor, J. J. (2020). Amino acids and the regulation of oxidative stress and immune function in dairy cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 98(Supplement_1), S175-S193. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa138Collier, R. J., Stiening, C. M., Pollard, B. C., VanBaale, M. J., Baumgard, L. H., Gentry, P. C., & Coussens, P. M. (2006). Use of gene expression microarrays for evaluating environmental stress tolerance at the cellular level in cattle1. Journal of Animal Science, 84(suppl_13), E1-E13. doi:10.2527/2006.8413_supple1xCouper, K. N., Blount, D. G., & Riley, E. M. (2008). IL-10: The Master Regulator of Immunity to Infection. The Journal of Immunology, 180(9), 5771-5777. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.180.9.5771Del Vesco, A. P., Gasparino, E., Grieser, D. de O., Zancanela, V., Soares, M. A. M., & de Oliveira Neto, A. R. (2015). Effects of methionine supplementation on the expression of oxidative stress-related genes in acute heat stress-exposed broilers. British Journal of Nutrition, 113(4), 549-559. doi:10.1017/s0007114514003535Ekremoğlu, M., Türközkan, N., Erdamar, H., Kurt, Y., & Yaman, H. (2006). Protective effect of taurine on respiratory burst activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in endotoxemia. Amino Acids, 32(3), 413-417. doi:10.1007/s00726-006-0382-2El-Benna, J., Hurtado-Nedelec, M., Marzaioli, V., Marie, J.-C., Gougerot-Pocidalo, M.-A., & Dang, P. M.-C. (2016). Priming of the neutrophil respiratory burst: role in host defense and inflammation. Immunological Reviews, 273(1), 180-193. doi:10.1111/imr.12447Esposito, G., Irons, P. C., Webb, E. C., & Chapwanya, A. (2014). Interactions between negative energy balance, metabolic diseases, uterine health and immune response in transition dairy cows. Animal Reproduction Science, 144(3-4), 60-71. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2013.11.007Fear, J. M., & Hansen, P. J. (2011). Developmental Changes in Expression of Genes Involved in Regulation of Apoptosis in the Bovine Preimplantation Embryo1. Biology of Reproduction, 84(1), 43-51. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.110.086249Gao, S. T., Guo, J., Quan, S. Y., Nan, X. M., Fernandez, M. V. S., Baumgard, L. H., & Bu, D. P. (2017). The effects of heat stress on protein metabolism in lactating Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(6), 5040-5049. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-11913Han, Z.-Y., Mu, T., & Yang, Z. (2014). Methionine protects against hyperthermia-induced cell injury in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells. Cell Stress and Chaperones, 20(1), 109-120. doi:10.1007/s12192-014-0530-7Heiser, A., LeBlanc, S. J., & McDougall, S. (2018). Pegbovigrastim treatment affects gene expression in neutrophils of pasture-fed, periparturient cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(9), 8194-8207. doi:10.3168/jds.2017-14129Horowitz, M. (2001). Heat acclimation: phenotypic plasticity and cues to the underlying molecular mechanisms. Journal of Thermal Biology, 26(4-5), 357-363. doi:10.1016/s0306-4565(01)00044-4Hunter-Lavin, C., Davies, E. L., Bacelar, M. M. F. V. G., Marshall, M. J., Andrew, S. M., & Williams, J. H. H. (2004). Hsp70 release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 324(2), 511-517. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.09.075Ingvartsen, K. L., & Moyes, K. (2013). Nutrition, immune function and health of dairy cattle. Animal, 7, 112-122. doi:10.1017/s175173111200170xJoshi, B. C., Joshi, H. B., McDowell, R. E., & Sadhu, D. P. (1968). Composition of Skin Secretions from Three Indian Breeds of Cattle Under Thermal Stress. Journal of Dairy Science, 51(6), 917-920. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(68)87105-xKobayashi, S. D., & DeLeo, F. R. (2009). Role of neutrophils in innate immunity: a systems biology‐level approach. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology and Medicine, 1(3), 309-333. doi:10.1002/wsbm.32Kumar, H., Kawai, T., & Akira, S. (2011). Pathogen Recognition by the Innate Immune System. International Reviews of Immunology, 30(1), 16-34. doi:10.3109/08830185.2010.529976Lacetera, N., Bernabucci, U., Basiricò, L., Morera, P., & Nardone, A. (2009). Heat shock impairs DNA synthesis and down-regulates gene expression for leptin and Ob-Rb receptor in concanavalin A-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 127(1-2), 190-194. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.09.020Lacetera, N., Bernabucci, U., Scalia, D., Basiricò, L., Morera, P., & Nardone, A. (2006). Heat Stress Elicits Different Responses in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Brown Swiss and Holstein Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 89(12), 4606-4612. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(06)72510-3Lecchi, C., Rota, N., Vitali, A., Ceciliani, F., & Lacetera, N. (2016). In vitro assessment of the effects of temperature on phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in bovine polymorphonuclear cells. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 182, 89-94. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2016.10.007Loos, H., Roos, D., Weening, R., & Houwerzijl, J. (1976). Familial deficiency of glutathione reductase in human blood cells. Blood, 48(1), 53-62. doi:10.1182/blood.v48.1.53.53Lopreiato, V., Vailati-Riboni, M., Bellingeri, A., Khan, I., Farina, G., Parys, C., & Loor, J. J. (2019). Inflammation and oxidative stress transcription profiles due to in vitro supply of methionine with or without choline in unstimulated blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes from lactating Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(11), 10395-10410. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-16413Lubos, E., Loscalzo, J., & Handy, D. E. (2011). Glutathione Peroxidase-1 in Health and Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 15(7), 1957-1997. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3586Lushchak, V. I. (2012). Glutathione Homeostasis and Functions: Potential Targets for Medical Interventions. Journal of Amino Acids, 2012, 1-26. doi:10.1155/2012/736837McGuire, M. A., Beede, D. K., DeLorenzo, M. A., Wilcox, C. J., Huntington, G. B., Reynolds, C. K., & Collier, R. J. (1989). Effects of Thermal Stress and Level of Feed Intake on Portal Plasma Flow and Net Fluxes of Metabolites in Lactating Holstein Cows2,3. Journal of Animal Science, 67(4), 1050-1060. doi:10.2527/jas1989.6741050xMin, L., Zheng, N., Zhao, S., Cheng, J., Yang, Y., Zhang, Y., … Wang, J. (2016). Long-term heat stress induces the inflammatory response in dairy cows revealed by plasma proteome analysis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 471(2), 296-302. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.01.185Moyes, K. M., Drackley, J. K., Morin, D. E., & Loor, J. J. (2010). Greater expression of TLR2, TLR4, and IL6 due to negative energy balance is associated with lower expression of HLA-DRA and HLA-A in bovine blood neutrophils after intramammary mastitis challenge with Streptococcus uberis. Functional & Integrative Genomics, 10(1), 53-61. doi:10.1007/s10142-009-0154-7Moyes, K. M., Graugnard, D. E., Khan, M. J., Mukesh, M., & Loor, J. J. (2014). Postpartal immunometabolic gene network expression and function in blood neutrophils are altered in response to prepartal energy intake and postpartal intramammary inflammatory challenge. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(4), 2165-2177. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-7433Nakamura, M. (2000). Preconditioning decreases Bax expression, PMN accumulation and apoptosis in reperfused rat heart. Cardiovascular Research, 45(3), 661-670. doi:10.1016/s0008-6363(99)00393-4Oeckinghaus, A., & Ghosh, S. (2009). The NF- B Family of Transcription Factors and Its Regulation. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 1(4), a000034-a000034. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a000034Osorio, J. S., Ji, P., Drackley, J. K., Luchini, D., & Loor, J. J. (2014). Smartamine M and MetaSmart supplementation during the peripartal period alter hepatic expression of gene networks in 1-carbon metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor 1 axis pathways. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(12), 7451-7464. doi:10.3168/jds.2014-8680Salama, A. A. K., Duque, M., Wang, L., Shahzad, K., Olivera, M., & Loor, J. J. (2019). Enhanced supply of methionine or arginine alters mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling proteins, messenger RNA, and microRNA abundance in heat-stressed bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(3), 2469-2480. doi:10.3168/jds.2018-15219Schell, M. T., Spitzer, A. L., Johnson, J. A., Lee, D., & Harris, H. W. (2005). Heat Shock Inhibits NF-kB Activation in a Dose- and Time-Dependent Manner. Journal of Surgical Research, 129(1), 90-93. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2005.05.025Silanikove, N. (2000). Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants. Livestock Production Science, 67(1-2), 1-18. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(00)00162-7Stankiewicz, A. R., Lachapelle, G., Foo, C. P. Z., Radicioni, S. M., & Mosser, D. D. (2005). Hsp70 Inhibits Heat-induced Apoptosis Upstream of Mitochondria by Preventing Bax Translocation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(46), 38729-38739. doi:10.1074/jbc.m509497200Steel, G. J., Fullerton, D. M., Tyson, J. R., & Stirling, C. J. (2004). Coordinated Activation of Hsp70 Chaperones. Science, 303(5654), 98-101. doi:10.1126/science.1092287Sun, D., Chen, D., Du, B., & Pan, J. (2005). Heat Shock Response Inhibits NF-κB Activation and Cytokine Production in Murine Kupffer Cells. Journal of Surgical Research, 129(1), 114-121. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2005.05.028Taraktsoglou, M., Szalabska, U., Magee, D. A., Browne, J. A., Sweeney, T., Gormley, E., & MacHugh, D. E. (2011). Transcriptional profiling of immune genes in bovine monocyte-derived macrophages exposed to bacterial antigens. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 140(1-2), 130-139. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.12.002Trevisi, E., Jahan, N., Bertoni, G., Ferrari, A., & Minuti, A. (2015). Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Profile in Dairy Cows: Consequences for New Lactation. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 14(3), 3862. doi:10.4081/ijas.2015.3862Tsan, M.-F., & Gao, B. (2004). Cytokine function of heat shock proteins. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 286(4), C739-C744. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00364.2003Vailati-Riboni, M., Zhou, Z., Jacometo, C. B., Minuti, A., Trevisi, E., Luchini, D. N., & Loor, J. J. (2017). Supplementation with rumen-protected methionine or choline during the transition period influences whole-blood immune response in periparturient dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(5), 3958-3968. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-11812Yan, J., Meng, X., Wancket, L. M., Lintner, K., Nelin, L. D., Chen, B., … Liu, Y. (2012). Glutathione Reductase Facilitates Host Defense by Sustaining Phagocytic Oxidative Burst and Promoting the Development of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps. The Journal of Immunology, 188(5), 2316-2327. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1102683Zhou, Z., Bulgari, O., Vailati-Riboni, M., Trevisi, E., Ballou, M. A., Cardoso, F. C., … Loor, J. J. (2016). Rumen-protected methionine compared with rumen-protected choline improves immunometabolic status in dairy cows during the peripartal period. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(11), 8956-8969. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-10986Zhou, Z., Ferdous, F., Montagner, P., Luchini, D. N., Corrêa, M. N., & Loor, J. J. (2018). Methionine and choline supply during the peripartal period alter polymorphonuclear leukocyte immune response and immunometabolic gene expression in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(11), 10374-10382. doi:10.3168/jds.2018-14972Zhou, Z., Vailati-Riboni, M., Trevisi, E., Drackley, J. K., Luchini, D. N., & Loor, J. J. (2016). Better postpartal performance in dairy cows supplemented with rumen-protected methionine compared with choline during the peripartal period. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(11), 8716-8732. doi:10.3168/jds.2015-1052

Inflammation and oxidative stress transcription profiles due to in vitro supply of methionine with or without choline in unstimulated blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes from lactating Holstein cows.

Neutrophils are the most important polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), representing the front-line defense involved in pathogen clearance upon invasion. As such, they play a pivotal role in immune and inflammatory responses. Isolated PMNL from 5 mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows were used to evaluate the in vitro effect of methionine (Met) and choline (Chol) supplementation on mRNA expression of genes related to the Met cycle and innate immunity. The target genes are associated with the Met cycle, cell signaling, inflammation, antimicrobial and killing mechanisms, and pathogen recognition. Treatments were allocated in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, including 3 Lys-to-Met ratios (L:M, 3.6:1, 2.9:1, or 2.4:1) and 3 levels of supplemental Chol (0, 400, or 800 μg/mL). Three replicates per treatment group were incubated for 2 h at 37°C and 5% atmospheric CO2. Both betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase and choline dehydrogenase were undetectable, indicating that PMNL (at least in vitro) cannot generate Met from Chol through the betaine pathway. The PMNL incubated without Chol experienced a specific state of inflammatory mediation [greater interleukin-1β (IL1B), myeloperoxidase (MPO), IL10, and IL6] and oxidative stress [greater cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH), glutathione reductase (GSR), and glutathione synthase (GSS)]. However, data from the interaction L:M × Chol indicated that this negative state could be overcome by supplementing additional Met. This was reflected in the upregulation of methionine synthase (MTR) and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2); that is, pathogen detection ability. At the lowest level of supplemental Chol, Met downregulated GSS, GSR, IL1B, and IL6, suggesting it could reduce cellular inflammation and enhance antioxidant status. At 400 µg/mL Chol, supplemental Met upregulated PMNL recognition capacity [higher TLR4 and L-selectin (SELL)]. Overall, enhancing the supply of methyl donors to isolated unstimulated PMNL from mid-lactating dairy cows leads to a low level of PMNL activation and upregulates a cytoprotective mechanism against oxidative stress. Enhancing the supply of Met coupled with adequate Chol levels enhances the gene expression of PMNL pathogen-recognition mechanism. These data suggest that Chol supply to PMNL exposed to low levels of Met effectively downregulated the entire repertoire of innate inflammatory-responsive genes. Thus, Met availability in PMNL during an inflammatory challenge may be sufficient for mounting an appropriate biologic response

Protons accelerated in the target normal sheath acceleration regime by a femtosecond laser

Advanced targets based on thin films of graphene oxide covered by metallic layers have been irradiated at high laser intensity (∼1019 W/cm2) with 40 fs laser pulses to investigate the forward ion acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration regime. A time-of-flight technique was employed with silicon-carbide detectors and ion collectors as fast on-line plasma diagnostics. At the optimized conditions of the laser focus position with respect to the target surface was measured the maximum proton energy using Au metallic films. A maximum proton energy of 2.85 MeV was measured using the Au metallization of 200 nm. The presence of graphene oxide facilitates the electron crossing of the foil minimizing the electron scattering and increasing the electric field driving the ion acceleration. The effect of plasma electron density control using the graphene oxide is presented and discussed

Ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine enhances performance during the periparturient period and early lactation in Holstein dairy cows

The onset of lactation in dairy cows is characterized by severe negative energy and protein balance. Increasing Met availability during this time may improve milk production, hepatic lipid metabolism, and immune function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine (RPM; Mepron, Evonik Nutrition and Care GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany) on the performance of dairy cows during prepartum and early-lactation periods. Sixty multiparous Holstein cows were used in a block design and assigned to either a control or an ethyl-cellulose RPM diet. Ethyl-cellulose RPM was supplied from -28 to 60 d relative to parturition at a rate of 0.09% and 0.10% of dry matter during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively. That rate ensured that the ratio of Lys to Met in metabolizable protein was close to 2.8:1. Cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM had dry matter intakes (DMI) that were 1.2 kg/d greater during the prepartum period and consequently had overall greater cumulative DMI than cows in the control group. Compared with controls, during the fresh period (1-30 d in milk; DIM) feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI by 1.7 kg/d, milk yield by 4.1 kg/d, fat yield by 0.17 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.20 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.3 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.4 kg/d. Although ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation increased milk protein content by 0.16 percentage units compared with the control during the fresh period, no differences were observed for milk fat, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen concentration. During the high-producing period (31-60 DIM), cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI and milk yield by 1.45 and 4.4 kg/d, respectively. Ethyl-cellulose RPM also increased fat yield by 0.19 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.17 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.7 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.8 kg/d compared with controls. Ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation reduced plasma fatty acids in the fresh period and decreased γ-glutamyl transferase, indicating better liver function. In conclusion, when lysine was adequate, feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM to achieve a ratio close to 2.8:1 in metabolizable protein improved dairy cow performance from parturition through 60 DIM. The greater milk production was, at least in part, driven by the greater voluntary DMI and better liver function

Stress induced Salmonella Typhimurium re-excretion by pigs is associated with cortisol induced increased intracellular proliferation in porcine macrophages

Infections of pigs with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella Typhimurium) often result in the development of carriers that intermittently excrete Salmonella in very low numbers. During periods of stress, recrudescence of Salmonella may occur