Genetic Variability of Ruminal Starch Degradation of Corn Harvested at Two Silage Maturities

This trial was carried out to determine the influence of genotype and maturity stage on ruminal starch degradation of corn harvested at silage maturity. Two types of corn (Zea mays L.), differing in their endosperm texture, flint or dent, were harvested at 30 and 35 % whole plant DM. The degradation rate in the rumen of grains (oven dried at 40°C and ground through a 3-mm screen) was determined by the in situ technique. Mean ruminal starch degradability was 69 %. With maturity, the content of grain in the whole plant increased and ruminal starch degradability decreased (15 points). Starch of dent corn was always more degradable than starch of flint corn (22 points). Particulate starch losses through the bag pores were low and they varied little. Harvested at silage maturity, ruminal starch degradation of corn grain varied widely

Campus Mental Health: Implications for Instructors Supporting Students

The recent escalation in student suicides due to mental health problems has encouraged higher education institutions to not only modify their overall support structures, but to also (re)define the role of faculty and staff. Despite the increased attention given to student mental health in Canadian higher education institutions, little is known and understood about how instructors view their role as supporters or promoters of student mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of college instructors in supporting students with mental health problems or illnesses. Participants were 42 instructors between the ages of 25 to 64 from Molize College in Toronto, Ontario. Qualitative ethnography was employed to gather data from participants, specifically through a survey questionnaire and interviews. A constructivist framework was adopted to analyze and understand the values, perceptions, meanings, and practices post-secondary instructors carry around notions of student mental health and intervention. Findings revealed that instructors were generally aware of student mental health concerns in post-secondary institutions, but that greater awareness was still warranted, namely in the areas of instructor mental health and location of support services. Findings also demonstrated that most instructors evaluated their knowledge and confidence in relation to student mental health as poor, which was often credited to limited relevant professional development and training. Additionally, data indicated that instructors carried skepticism towards the role of some student support services departments, as well as towards their own role when supporting the mental health and well-being of students. On a final note, findings revealed that instructors commonly employed four practices to support the mental health and well-being of students: conversation, referral, accommodations, and curricular inclusion and instruction. Future studies are encouraged to acknowledge the narratives of instructors through ethnographic inquiry, to allow for greater insights into their awareness, knowledge/confidence, responsibilities, and practices when it comes to supporting the mental health and well-being of students in higher education settings. Incorporating the instructor may not be a panacea for the shortcomings of current mental health policies and practices in higher education settings, but it can certainly represent a colossal step in that direction. KEYWORDS: student mental health, higher education, instructor

Effet du traitement au formol sur la dégradation in situ et in vitro du blé et du maïs

International audienc

Influence of the nature of cereal on site and extent of starch digestion in steers

International audienc

In situ and in vitro ruminal starch degradation of untreated and formaldehyde-treated wheat and maize

International audienc

Killer Dendritic Cells Link Innate and Adaptive Immunity against Established Osteosarcoma in Rats

We have previously reported that a distinct subset of splenic CD4− rat dendritic cells (DC) induces a rapid and caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in a large number of tumor cells in vitro. The killing activity of these killer DC (KDC) was restricted to their immature state and was immediately followed by their engulfment of the apoptotic target cells, suggesting that these KDC could directly link innate and adaptive immunity to tumors. Here, we addressed this question using a transplantable model of rat osteosarcoma. First, we showed that rat KDC have an MHC II+CD103+CD11b+NKp46− phenotype and are therefore distinct from natural killer cells, which are MHC II−CD103−CD11b−NKp46+. KDC numbers could be specifically and strongly (up to 10-fold) enhanced by Flt3L in vivo. The OSRGa cell line derived from the osteosarcoma tumor was killed and phagocytosed in vitro by both normal and Flt3L-induced splenic KDC. Such tumor antigen–loaded KDC were used to s.c. vaccinate progressive tumor-bearing rats. Vaccination with OSRGa-loaded KDC but not KDC loaded with irrelevant tumor cells (Jurkat) delayed tumor progression or even induced tumor regression. This vaccine effect was not observed in CD8 T cell–depleted animals and protective against tumor rechallenge. These results suggest that KDC possess the intrinsic capability not only to kill and then engulf tumor cells but also to efficiently cross-present tumor cell–derived antigen in vivo and subsequently induce an adaptive antitumor immune response

Clinical and imaging predictors of intracerebral haemorrhage in stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator

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