Relationships of Chute-Side Measurements to Carcass Measurements

Three data sets were compiled to determine the relationship of weight, performance, hip height and ultrasound-measured fat thickness to hot carcass weight and fat thickness. Weight is generally the best predictor of relative differences in carcass weight at any time in the production system. Hip heights do not predict relative differences in carcass weight. Although the combination of hip height and weight is a more precise indicator of carcass weight than is hip height alone, generally this combination is inferior to weight alone. Only ultrasound-measured fat thickness predicted relative differences in fat thickness. Prediction of relative differences in carcass weight from body weight and fat thickness from ultrasound scans improved as marketing date approached

Sorting Strategies for Yearlings

One hundred sixty medium-framed English-cross steers were used in each year of a two-year study to determine effects of three sorting strategies on performance, carcass characteristics and profitability in an extensive beef production system. Sorting by weight before the grazing period or entering the feedlot decreased variation in carcass weight. Sorting by weight before the grazing period increased marbling scores and resulted in significantly higher premiums. However, no sorting strategy significantly increased carcass weight or improved profitability

Sorting Strategies for Yearlings

One hundred sixty medium-framed English-cross steers were used in each year of a two-year study to determine effects of three sorting strategies on performance, carcass characteristics and profitability in an extensive beef production system. Sorting by weight before the grazing period or entering the feedlot decreased variation in carcass weight. Sorting by weight before the grazing period increased marbling scores and resulted in significantly higher premiums. However, no sorting strategy significantly increased carcass weight or improved profitability

Sorting Strategies in an Extensive Forage Utilization Beef Production System

One hundred sixty crossbred steer calves were stratified by weight and allotted into four groups to test three sorting strategies against an unsorted control to compare methods of sorting long yearling steers to decrease variation in carcass weight and fat thickness, increase pounds of carcass weight sold, and increase profitability. Sorting by weight upon entry into the feedlot or by weight and fat thickness at the end of the feeding period increased average carcass weight. No statistical differences in variation or profitability were found, although numerical differences were present

Sustainment of the TeleSleep program for rural veterans.

BACKGROUND: In fiscal year 2021, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provided care for sleep disorders to 599,966 Veterans, including 189,932 rural Veterans. To further improve rural access, the VA Office of Rural Health developed the TeleSleep Enterprise-Wide Initiative (EWI). TeleSleeps telemedicine strategies include tests for sleep apnea at the Veterans home rather than in a sleep lab; Clinical Video Telehealth applications; and other forms of virtual care. In 2017 and 2020, VHA provided 3-year start-up funding to launch new TeleSleep programs at rural-serving VA medical facilities. METHODS: In early 2022, we surveyed leaders of 24 sites that received TeleSleep funding to identify successes, failures, facilitators, and barriers relevant to sustaining TeleSleep implementations upon expiration of startup funding. We tabulated frequencies on the multiple choice questions in the survey, and, using the surveys critical incident framework, summarized the responses to open-ended questions. TeleSleep program leaders discussed the responses and synthesized recommendations for improvement. RESULTS: 18 sites reported sustainment, while six were on track. Sustainment involved medical centers or regional entities incorporating TeleSleep into their budgets. Facilitators included: demonstrating value; aligning with local priorities; and collaborating with spoke sites serving rural Veterans. Barriers included: misalignment with local priorities; and hiring delays. COVID was a facilitator, as it stimulated adoption of telehealth practices; and also a barrier, as it consumed attention and resources. Recommendations included: longer startup funding; dedicated funding for human resources to accelerate hiring; funders communicating with local facility leaders regarding how TeleSleep aligns with organizational priorities; hiring into job classifications aligned with market pay; and obtaining, from finance departments, projections and outcomes for the return on investment in TeleSleep

Sustainment of the TeleSleep program for rural veterans

BackgroundIn fiscal year 2021, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provided care for sleep disorders to 599,966 Veterans, including 189,932 rural Veterans. To further improve rural access, the VA Office of Rural Health developed the TeleSleep Enterprise-Wide Initiative (EWI). TeleSleep's telemedicine strategies include tests for sleep apnea at the Veteran's home rather than in a sleep lab; Clinical Video Telehealth applications; and other forms of virtual care. In 2017 and 2020, VHA provided 3-year start-up funding to launch new TeleSleep programs at rural-serving VA medical facilities.MethodsIn early 2022, we surveyed leaders of 24 sites that received TeleSleep funding to identify successes, failures, facilitators, and barriers relevant to sustaining TeleSleep implementations upon expiration of startup funding. We tabulated frequencies on the multiple choice questions in the survey, and, using the survey's critical incident framework, summarized the responses to open-ended questions. TeleSleep program leaders discussed the responses and synthesized recommendations for improvement.Results18 sites reported sustainment, while six were “on track.” Sustainment involved medical centers or regional entities incorporating TeleSleep into their budgets. Facilitators included: demonstrating value; aligning with local priorities; and collaborating with spoke sites serving rural Veterans. Barriers included: misalignment with local priorities; and hiring delays. COVID was a facilitator, as it stimulated adoption of telehealth practices; and also a barrier, as it consumed attention and resources. Recommendations included: longer startup funding; dedicated funding for human resources to accelerate hiring; funders communicating with local facility leaders regarding how TeleSleep aligns with organizational priorities; hiring into job classifications aligned with market pay; and obtaining, from finance departments, projections and outcomes for the return on investment in TeleSleep

Molecular Detection of Invasive Species in Heterogeneous Mixtures Using a Microfluidic Carbon Nanotube Platform

Screening methods to prevent introductions of invasive species are critical for the protection of environmental and economic benefits provided by native species and uninvaded ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems worldwide remain vulnerable to damage from aquatic species introductions, particularly via ballast water discharge from ships. Because current ballast management practices are not completely effective, rapid and sensitive screening methods are needed for on-site testing of ships in transit. Here, we describe a detection technology based on a microfluidic chip containing DNA oligonucleotide functionalized carbon nanotubes. We demonstrate the efficacy of the chip using three ballast-transported species either established (Dreissena bugensis) or of potential threat (Eriocheir sinensis and Limnoperna fortuneii) to the Laurentian Great Lakes. With further refinement for on-board application, the technology could lead to real-time ballast water screening to improve ship-specific management and control decisions

Group II Introns Break New Boundaries: Presence in a Bilaterian's Genome

Group II introns are ribozymes, removing themselves from their primary transcripts, as well as mobile genetic elements, transposing via an RNA intermediate, and are thought to be the ancestors of spliceosomal introns. Although common in bacteria and most eukaryotic organelles, they have never been reported in any bilaterian animal genome, organellar or nuclear. Here we report the first group II intron found in the mitochondrial genome of a bilaterian worm. This location is especially surprising, since animal mitochondrial genomes are generally distinct from those of plants, fungi, and protists by being small and compact, and so are viewed as being highly streamlined, perhaps as a result of strong selective pressures for fast replication while establishing germ plasm during early development. This intron is found in the mtDNA of an annelid worm, (an undescribed species of Nephtys), where the complete sequence revealed a 1819 bp group II intron inside the cox1 gene. We infer that this intron is the result of a recent horizontal gene transfer event from a viral or bacterial vector into the mitochondrial genome of Nephtys sp. Our findings hold implications for understanding mechanisms, constraints, and selective pressures that account for patterns of animal mitochondrial genome evolutio

Pervasiveness of Parasites in Pollinators

Many pollinator populations are declining, with large economic and ecological implications. Parasites are known to be an important factor in the some of the population declines of honey bees and bumblebees, but little is known about the parasites afflicting most other pollinators, or the extent of interspecific transmission or vectoring of parasites. Here we carry out a preliminary screening of pollinators (honey bees, five species of bumblebee, three species of wasp, four species of hoverfly and three genera of other bees) in the UK for parasites. We used molecular methods to screen for six honey bee viruses, Ascosphaera fungi, Microsporidia, and Wolbachia intracellular bacteria. We aimed simply to detect the presence of the parasites, encompassing vectoring as well as actual infections. Many pollinators of all types were positive for Ascosphaera fungi, while Microsporidia were rarer, being most frequently found in bumblebees. We also detected that most pollinators were positive for Wolbachia, most probably indicating infection with this intracellular symbiont, and raising the possibility that it may be an important factor in influencing host sex ratios or fitness in a diversity of pollinators. Importantly, we found that about a third of bumblebees (Bombus pascuorum and Bombus terrestris) and a third of wasps (Vespula vulgaris), as well as all honey bees, were positive for deformed wing virus, but that this virus was not present in other pollinators. Deformed wing virus therefore does not appear to be a general parasite of pollinators, but does interact significantly with at least three species of bumblebee and wasp. Further work is needed to establish the identity of some of the parasites, their spatiotemporal variation, and whether they are infecting the various pollinator species or being vectored. However, these results provide a first insight into the diversity, and potential exchange, of parasites in pollinator communities