Reducing pup litter size alters early postnatal calcium homeostasis and programs adverse adult cardiovascular and bone health in male rats

The in utero and early postnatal environments play essential roles in offspring growth and development. Standardizing or reducing pup litter size can independently compromise long-term health likely due to altered milk quality, thus limiting translational potential. This study investigated the effect reducing litter size has on milk quality and offspring outcomes. On gestation day 18, dams underwent sham or bilateral uterine vessel ligation surgery to generate dams with normal (Control) and altered (Restricted) milk quality/composition. At birth, pups were cross-fostered onto separate dams with either an unadjusted or reduced litter size. Plasma parathyroid hormone-related protein was increased in Reduced litter pups, whereas ionic calcium and total body calcium were decreased. These data suggest Reduced litter pups have dysregulated calcium homeostasis in early postnatal life, which may impair bone mineralization decreasing adult bone bending strength. Dams suckling Reduced litter pups had increased milk long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid and omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid. Reduced litter pups suckled by Normal milk quality/composition dams had increased milk omega-6 linoleic and arachidonic acids. Reduced litter male adult offspring had elevated blood pressure. This study highlights care must be taken when interpreting data from research that alters litter size as it may mask subtle cardiometabolic health effects.Jessica F. Briffa, Rachael O’Dowd, Tania Romano, Beverly S. Muhlhausler, Karen M. Moritz and Mary E. Wlode

Q

The Qweak experiment, which took data at Jefferson Lab in the period 2010 - 2012, will precisely determine the weak charge of the proton by measuring the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic e-p scattering at 1.1 GeV using a longitudinally polarized electron beam and a liquid hydrogen target at a low momentum transfer of Q2 = 0.025 (GeV/c)2. The weak charge of the proton is predicted by the Standard Model and any significant deviation would indicate physics beyond the Standard Model. The technical challenges and experimental apparatus for measuring the weak charge of the proton will be discussed, as well as the method of extracting the weak charge of the proton. The results from a small subset of the data, that has been published, will also be presented. Furthermore an update will be given of the current status of the data analysis

Generation of storm runoff and the role of animals in a small upland headwater stream

This paper illustrates the hillslope storm runoff mechanisms and the effects of livestock in upland areas. The research site was a small upland catchment area on Dartmoor (Southwest England). It was shown that overland flow on the tracks and paths created by animals in the area responded very rapidly to rainfall, in the same order of magnitude as stream runoff. Livestock stocking densities were significantly different in different vegetation compositions. The topsoil bulk density values, moisture content and spatial track densities were significantly higher in areas associated with higher stocking rates. These areas reach a wetness threshold at an earlier state than surrounding, drier areas. When isolated, the wetter areas start discharging water only locally into downslope drier areas, but are not contributing to storm runoff in the stream. In areas with a high density of animal tracks, water is being discharged onto the track directly. The tracks comprised an ephemeral hydrological network contributing storm runoff to the stream quickly after rainfall. They transmit water rapidly downhill, short-circuiting local areas, reducing runoff lag time and increasing storm stream runoff. The runoff producing mechanism, in which soil conditions, vegetation types and path networks are a complex interplay of contributing factors, may be relevant to other uplands, especially when they act as water reservoir or source area for possible flooding events. Therefore, upland management policies need to take into account that the heterogeneity of hillslopes at local scales have implications for storm runoff at the catchment scale