Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for Beef Cattle X: Frame Score, Frame Size, and Weight

Body size is an important genetic factor in beef cattle production. Historically, size was first estimated by measurements such as height or length. As scales were developed, weight became more common as a measure of size. Although measurement and weight are related, their rates of maturity differ. By 7 months of age, cattle reach about 80 percent of mature height but only 35 to 45 percent of mature weight. At 12 months, about 90 percent of mature height is reached, compared with only 50 to 60 percent of mature weight

THE CONTRIBUTION OF HIP STRENGTH TO HIP ADDUCTION DURING RUNNING IS INFLUENCED BY STEP RATE, ANKLE DORSIFLEXION AND INJURY STATUS

Peak hip adduction angle is frequently associated with running related injuries. The purpose of this study was to identify how clinical assessment measures interact to determine the presence of high or low peak hip adduction angles during running. A mixed sex sample of runners (n=125) comprising both injured and healthy controls were assessed for hip abduction strength and range of movement of the hip and ankle. Each runner then ran on a treadmill whilst 3D kinematic data was recorded, with peak hip adduction angles isolated from the data. All interest variables were analysed using a classification and regression tree procedure. This produced a model which was able to classify runners with either high or low peak hip adduction angles with an accuracy of 83.2%. The contribution of hip abductor strength to peak hip adduction angles was influenced by step rate, ankle dorsiflexion range of movement and injury status. This adds to our understanding of the relationship between hip strength and peak hip adduction

Noise-augmented directional clustering of genetic association data identifies distinct mechanisms underlying obesity.

Funder: NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research CentreClustering genetic variants based on their associations with different traits can provide insight into their underlying biological mechanisms. Existing clustering approaches typically group variants based on the similarity of their association estimates for various traits. We present a new procedure for clustering variants based on their proportional associations with different traits, which is more reflective of the underlying mechanisms to which they relate. The method is based on a mixture model approach for directional clustering and includes a noise cluster that provides robustness to outliers. The procedure performs well across a range of simulation scenarios. In an applied setting, clustering genetic variants associated with body mass index generates groups reflective of distinct biological pathways. Mendelian randomization analyses support that the clusters vary in their effect on coronary heart disease, including one cluster that represents elevated body mass index with a favourable metabolic profile and reduced coronary heart disease risk. Analysis of the biological pathways underlying this cluster identifies inflammation as potentially explaining differences in the effects of increased body mass index on coronary heart disease

Recombinant expression and characterisation of the oxygen-sensitive 2-enoate reductase from Clostridium sporogenes

‘Ene’-reductases have attracted significant attention for the preparation of chemical intermediates and biologically active products. To date, research has been focussed primarily on Old Yellow Enzyme-like proteins, due to their ease of handling, whereas 2-enoate reductases from clostridia have received much less attention, because of their oxygen sensitivity and a lack of suitable expression systems. A hypothetical 2-enoate reductase gene, fldZ, was identified in Clostridium sporogenes DSM 795. The encoded protein shares a high degree of homology to clostridial FMN- and FAD-dependent 2-enoate reductases, including the cinnamic acid reductase proposed to be involved in amino acid metabolism in proteolytic clostridia. The gene was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Successful expression depended on the use of strictly anaerobic conditions for both growth and enzyme preparation, since FldZ was oxygen-sensitive. The enzyme reduced aromatic enoates, such as cinnamic acid or p-coumaric acid, but not short chain unsaturated aliphatic acids. The b,b-disubstituted nitroalkene, (E)-1-nitro-2-phenylpropene, was reduced to enantiopure (R)-1-nitro-2-phenylpropane with a yield of 90 %. By contrast, the a,b-disubstituted nitroalkene, (E)-2-nitro-1-phenylpropene, was reduced with a moderate yield of 56% and poor enantioselectivity (16% ee for (S)-2-nitro-1-phenylpropane). The availability of an expression system for this recombinant clostridial 2-enoate reductase will facilitate future characterisation of this unusual class of ‘ene’-reductases, and expand the biocatalytic toolbox available for enantioselective hydrogenation of carbon-carbon double bonds

Factors and Feeds for Supplementing Beef Cows

4 pp.A beef cow requires energy, protein, minerals and vitamins in its diet. Many factors, including forage quantity and quality and animal body condition, affect the amounts of required nutrients

Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for Beef Cattle X: Frame Score, Frame Size, and Weight

4 pp., 4 photos, 1 tableBody size is an important genetic factor in beef cattle production. Size is most accurately estimated by considering several factors, such as weight, skeletal size and body condition. Frame Scores are a way of estimating skeletal size based on hip height

Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for Beef Cattle--03: Body Size and Milking Level

4 pp.Body size and milking potential are important genetic traits in beef production. Wide ranges of body size can be efficient, depending on production environments, breeding systems and carcass specification. Biological compatibility and economic survival require genetic size and milking ability to be in harmony with production and market conditions