Effect of Age-at-Weaning and Post-Weaning Management on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Angus Steers

Recent developments in beef marketing have created more opportunities for producers to reap greater financial rewards based on the carcass merit of the animal. Increased premiums are being offered for animals that excel in the USDA\u27s Quality or Yield Grade scoring systems. There is an increasing focus on beef tenderness with today\u27s consumer. Producers need to understand how on-farm production practices can affect feedlot performance and carcass merit. This study utilized 75 Angus steers to determine the effects of age-at-weaning and post-weaning management on performance and carcass characteristics of steers

Effect of Age-at-Weaning and Post-Weaning Management on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Charolais-Angus Cross Steers

Recent developments in beef marketing have created more opportunities for producers to reap greater financial rewards based on the carcass merit of the animal. Increased premiums are being offered for animals that excel in the USDA\u27s Quality or Yield Grade scoring systems. There is an increasing focus on beef tenderness with today\u27s consumer. Producers need to understand how on-farm production practices can affect feedlot performance and carcass merit. The study reported here used 74 Charolais x Angus cross steers to determine the effects of age-at-weaning and post-weaning management on performance and carcass characteristics

Validation and characterisation of a novel peptide that binds monomeric and aggregated beta-amyloid and inhibits the formation of neurotoxic oligomers

Although the formation of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD), the soluble oligomers rather than the mature amyloid fibrils most likely contribute to Aβ toxicity and neurodegeneration. Thus, the discovery of agents targeting soluble Aβ oligomers is highly desirable for early diagnosis prior to the manifestation of a clinical AD phenotype and also more effective therapies. We have previously reported that a novel 15-amino acid peptide (15-mer), isolated via phage display screening, targeted Aβ and attenuated its neurotoxicity (Taddei, K., Laws, S. M., Verdile, G., Munns, S., D'Costa, K., Harvey, A. R., Martins, I. J., Hill, F., Levy, E., Shaw, J. E., and Martins, R. N. (2010) Neurobiol. Aging 31, 203–214). The aim of the current study was to generate and biochemically characterize analogues of this peptide with improved stability and therapeutic potential. We demonstrated that a stable analogue of the 15-amino acid peptide (15M S.A.) retained the activity and potency of the parent peptide and demonstrated improved proteolytic resistance in vitro (stable to t = 300 min, c.f. t = 30 min for the parent peptide). This candidate reduced the formation of soluble Aβ42 oligomers, with the concurrent generation of non-toxic, insoluble aggregates measuring up to 25–30 nm diameter as determined by atomic force microscopy. The 15M S.A. candidate directly interacted with oligomeric Aβ42, as shown by coimmunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance/Biacore analysis, with an affinity in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, this peptide bound fibrillar Aβ42 and also stained plaques ex vivo in brain tissue from AD model mice. Given its multifaceted ability to target monomeric and aggregated Aβ42 species, this candidate holds promise for novel preclinical AD imaging and therapeutic strategies

Non-standard errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

A novel mass spectrometric assay for the cerebroside sulfate activator protein (saposin B) and arylsulfatase A

A mass spectrometric method is described for monitoring cerebrosides in the presence of excess concentrations of alkali metal salts. This method has been adapted for use in the assay of arylsulfatase A ( ASA) and the cerebroside sulfate activator protein ( CSAct or saposin B). Detection of the neutral glycosphingolipid cerebroside product was achieved via enhancement of ionization efficiency in the presence of lithium ions. Assay samples were extracted into the chloroform phase as for the existing assays, dried, and diluted in methanol- chloroform- containing lithium chloride. Samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in the multiple reaction monitoring tandem mass spectrometric mode. The assay has been used to demonstrate several previously unknown or ambiguous aspects of the coupled ASA/ CSAct reaction, including an absolute in vitro preference for CSAct over the other saposins ( A, C, and D) and a preference for the nonhydroxylated species of the sulfatide substrate over the corresponding hydroxylated species. The modified assay for the coupled ASA/ CSAct reaction could find applicability in settings in which the assay could not be performed previously because of the need for radiolabeled substrate, which is now not required

Tropical marine EBM feasibility: A synthesis of case studies and comparative analyses

This overview compares and synthesizes the articles of this theme issue. It highlights that progress has been made toward the goals of marine ecosystem-based management (EBM) in tropical regions. Four key findings are presented: (1) Tailoring EBM to specific contexts ultimately determines success. (2) Employment of a wide variety of marine management tools is necessary and complementary to spatial management through marine protected areas (MPAs). (3) Although EBM approaches may be usefully defined using oceanographic and ecological principles, the design and implementation of feasible EBM will require, at least, equal consideration of governance and social conditions. (4) Interest in EBM has grown rapidly; however, this approach only improves ocean resource management if sustained by commitments from, at least, policymakers, resource users, and donors. Practical program design principles stressing the importance of leadership development, awareness raising, institutional reform, conflict resolution, adaptation, and evaluation are derived from these case studies and comparative analyses. A suite of empirically based EBM evaluative criteria, which can be adapted to local contexts, are suggested to fostered learning and progress. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC