Performance of Winter Wheat Varieties with and Without the ALMT1 Gene in Acid Soils

Aluminum (Al) tolerant wheat cultivars are often utilized in the southern Great Plains to damper the yield limiting impacts of Al toxicity in acidic soils. The tolerance is mainly facilitated by Al-activated malate transporter 1 (ALMT1) gene, which increases anion permeability of wheat roots and exudes malate in the presence of Al. However, no study has explored the phenotypic incongruities of those closely related genotypes with ALMT1(+) or without ALMT1(-)]. Moreover, there is currently no quantitative ranking of Al tolerance for newly released winter wheat varieties in forage and grain dual-purpose (DP) management systems. This field scale study consisting of two locations in central Oklahoma was established to determine the Al tolerance of eight parentally related but gene divergent winter wheat varieties [(Duster (+), Lonerider (+), OK14319 (+), Jagger (+), Iba (-), Gallagher (-), Spirit Rider (-), Smith's Gold (-)]. The design structure was a split-plot in a randomized complete block with a two-way treatment (6 x 8). Main plots were amended with alum/hydrated lime to reach the following target soil pH: 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 7.0. Soil samples were collected at two months after planting in order to determine soil pH and Al saturation (Alsat). Each variety was hand clipped during December to determine fall forage yield. Grain was harvested in June to measure grain yield, wheat protein concentration, test weight and wheat moisture content of each variety. Results varied between study years and locations. Significant differences were found between the relative forage yields of ALMT1 (-) and (+) genotypes groups at Stillwater and Chickasha in Year 1 (p = 0.0042 and p = 0.0440, respectively); however, differences were not significant in Year 2 (p = 0.7228 and p = 0.7792, respectively). No significant differences were found between relative grain yields of genotype groups at Chickasha (Alsat ≤ 8%) or Stillwater (Alsat ≤ 38%) in Year 1 (p = 0.9172 and p = 0.2102, respectively) or Year 2 (p = 0.2106 and p = 0.2684, respectively). Notwithstanding genotype group affiliation, significant differences were found among varieties in their response to Al concentration and soil acidity. Similarly, the productivity of genotype groups in this study varied between years and was not wholly dependent on the presence or absence of the ALMT1 gene. Additionally, varieties differed in their yearly and environmental responses despite close parental relationships. Nevertheless, the utilization of acid tolerant winter wheat varieties has the potential to significantly reduce yield loss under acidic soil conditions with high Al concentrations. The findings in this study should equip researchers and producers with the necessary knowledge to reduce yield losses when traditional methods of soil acidity amelioration such as liming are not feasible

Factors Driving Sow Breeding Operations to Become Large

This study examines the influences of economic and non-economic variables on the size of U.S. sow breeding operations using a probit model. Data from a national survey of U.S. hog operations identifying two different size categories were used in this study. Findings indicate that factors such as operations located in Delta States, climate controlled facilities, specialized operation, breeding practices, and risk attitudes toward investments influence decisions to establish breeding operations with 500 or more sows. Producers located in Iowa were more likely to choose breeding operations with 499 or less sows.Farm Management,

Relief of branch pulmonary artery stenosis reduces pulmonary valve insufficiency in a swine model

ObjectiveWe sought to determine the impact of relieving branch pulmonary artery stenosis on pulmonary valve insufficiency and right ventricular function. Long-standing pulmonary insufficiency causes progressive right ventricular dilatation, leading to decreased right ventricular function. Adults with pulmonary insufficiency are at risk of decreased exercise tolerance, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Branch pulmonary artery stenosis frequently occurs in these patients, and the presence of branch stenosis may exacerbate valve insufficiency.MethodsNeonatal piglets (n = 7) underwent surgery to create pulmonary insufficiency and left pulmonary artery stenosis. At 3 months of age, the animals underwent baseline cardiac magnetic resonance imaging followed by stenting of the left pulmonary artery. A repeat magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed 1 week after intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation included (1) velocity mapping to assess the forward and reverse flow at the main, left and right pulmonary arteries, and aorta; and (2) volumetric assessment of the right ventricle.ResultsLeft pulmonary artery flow increased from 14.5% to 36.3% of total net flow after stenting (P < .01). Pulmonary regurgitation decreased from 38.7% to 27.4% (P < .02). Right ventricular ejection fraction improved from a median of 53.5% to 58.2% after stenting (P < .01). Cardiac index improved from a median of 2.7 to 3.5 L/min/m2 (P = .01).ConclusionRelief of branch pulmonary artery stenosis reduces insufficiency and improves right ventricular systolic function in this animal model. This supports the practice of aggressive intervention in patients with branch pulmonary artery stenosis and pulmonary insufficiency

EPICOG-SCH: A brief battery to screen cognitive impact of schizophrenia in stable outpatients

Brief batteries in schizophrenia, are needed to screen for the cognitive impact of schizophrenia. We aimed to validate and co-norm the Epidemiological Study of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia (EPICOG-SCH) derived brief cognitive battery. A cross-sectional outpatient evaluation was conducted of six-hundred-seventy-two patients recruited from 234 centers. The brief battery included well-known subtests available worldwide that cover cognitive domains related to functional outcomes: WAIS-III-Letter-Number-Sequencing-LNS, Category Fluency Test-CFT, Logical-Memory Immediate Recall-LM, and Digit-Symbol-Coding-DSC. CGI-SCH Severity and WHO-DAS-S were used to assess clinical severity and functional impairment, respectively. Unit Composite Score (UCS) and functional regression-weighted Composite Scores (FWCS) were obtained; discriminant properties of FWCS to identify patients with different levels of functional disability were analyzed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) technique. The battery showed good internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha = 0.78. The differences between cognitive performance across CGI-SCH severity level subscales ranged from 0.5 to 1 SD. Discriminant capacity of the battery in identifying patients with up to moderate disability levels showed fair discriminant accuracy with areas under the curve (AUC) > 0.70, p < 0.0001. An FWCS mean cut-off score ≥ 100 showed likelihood ratios (LR) up to 4.7, with an LR+ of 2.3 and a LR− of 0.5. An FWCS cut-off ≥ 96 provided the best balance between sensitivity (0.74) and specificity (0.62). The EPICOG-SCH proved to be a useful brief tool to screen for the cognitive impact of schizophrenia, and its regression-weighted Composite Score was an efficient complement to clinical interviews for confirming patients' potential functional outcomes and can be useful for monitoring cognition during routine outpatient follow-up visits

Validation of a New Predictive Risk Model: Measuring the Impact of the Major Modifiable Risks of Death for Patients and Populations

Background: Modifiable risks account for a large fraction of disease and death, but clinicians and patients lack tools to identify high risk populations or compare the possible benefit of different interventions. Methods: We used data on the distribution of exposure to 12 major behavioral and biometric risk factors inthe US population, mortality rates by cause, and estimates of the proportional hazards of risk factor exposure from published systematic reviews to develop a risk prediction model that estimates an adult\u27s 10 year mortality risk compared to a population with optimum risk factors. We compared predicted risk to observed mortality in 8,241 respondents in NHANES 1988-1994 and NHANES 1999-2004 with linked mortality data up to the end of 2006

Translating statistical species-habitat models to interactive decision support tools

Understanding species-habitat relationships is vital to successful conservation, but the tools used to communicate species-habitat relationships are often poorly suited to the information needs of conservation practitioners. Here we present a novel method for translating a statistical species-habitat model, a regression analysis relating ring-necked pheasant abundance to landcover, into an interactive online tool. The Pheasant Habitat Simulator combines the analytical power of the R programming environment with the user-friendly Shiny web interface to create an online platform in which wildlife professionals can explore the effects of variation in local landcover on relative pheasant habitat suitability within spatial scales relevant to individual wildlife managers. Our tool allows users to virtually manipulate the landcover composition of a simulated space to explore how changes in landcover may affect pheasant relative habitat suitability, and guides users through the economic tradeoffs of landscape changes. We offer suggestions for development of similar interactive applications and demonstrate their potential as innovative science delivery tools for diverse professional and public audience

Follow-up study of infants recruited to the randomised, placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin for the prevention of chronic lung disease of prematurity in preterm infants: study protocol for the AZTEC-FU study

Background: Preterm birth, especially at less than 30 weeks’ gestation, is significantly associated with respiratory, neurodevelopmental and growth abnormalities. The AZTEC study has recruited 799 infants born at < 30 weeks’ gestation to determine if a ten-day intravenous treatment with azithromycin improves survival without development of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) at 36 weeks’ post menstrual age (PMA) when compared to placebo. The follow-up studies will compare respiratory, neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes up to 2 years of corrected age between infants who received azithromycin and those who received placebo in the early neonatal period. Methods: Survivors at 36 weeks’ PMA from the main Azithromycin Therapy for Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity (AZTEC) study with parental consent will continue to be followed up to discharge from the neonatal unit and to 2 years of corrected age. Length of stay, rates of home oxygen, length of supplemental oxygen requirement, hospital admissions, drug usage, respiratory illness, neurodevelopmental disability and death rates will be reported. Data is being collected via parentally completed respiratory and neurodevelopmental questionnaires at 1 and 2 years of corrected age respectively. Additional information is being obtained from various sources including hospital discharge and clinical letters from general practitioners and hospitals as well as from national databases including the National Neonatal Research Database and NHS Digital. Discussion: The AZTEC-FU study will assess mortality and important neonatal morbidities including respiratory, neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes. Important safety data will also be collected, including the incidence of potential consequences of early macrolide use, primarily pyloric stenosis. This study may have implications on future neonatal care. Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered on ISRCTN (ISRCTN47442783)

Regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces for real-time, proportional control of a Neuroprosthetic hand

Abstract Introduction Regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (RPNIs) are biological constructs which amplify neural signals and have shown long-term stability in rat models. Real-time control of a neuroprosthesis in rat models has not yet been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to: a) design and validate a system for translating electromyography (EMG) signals from an RPNI in a rat model into real-time control of a neuroprosthetic hand, and; b) use the system to demonstrate RPNI proportional neuroprosthesis control. Methods Animals were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: (1) Control; (2) Denervated, and; (3) RPNI. In the RPNI group, the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle was dissected free, denervated, transferred to the lateral thigh and neurotized with the residual end of the transected common peroneal nerve. Rats received tactile stimuli to the hind-limb via monofilaments, and electrodes were used to record EMG. Signals were filtered, rectified and integrated using a moving sample window. Processed EMG signals (iEMG) from RPNIs were validated against Control and Denervated group outputs. Results Voluntary reflexive rat movements produced signaling that activated the prosthesis in both the Control and RPNI groups, but produced no activation in the Denervated group. Signal-to-Noise ratio between hind-limb movement and resting iEMG was 3.55 for Controls and 3.81 for RPNIs. Both Control and RPNI groups exhibited a logarithmic iEMG increase with increased monofilament pressure, allowing graded prosthetic hand speed control (R2 = 0.758 and R2 = 0.802, respectively). Conclusion EMG signals were successfully acquired from RPNIs and translated into real-time neuroprosthetic control. Signal contamination from muscles adjacent to the RPNI was minimal. RPNI constructs provided reliable proportional prosthetic hand control.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146521/1/12984_2018_Article_452.pd

Lignes directrices pour de meilleures pratiques en matière de suivi de la santé et de contrôle des maladies des populations de grands singes

Ces lignes directrices ont pour objectif de fournir aux gouvernements, aux d&eacute;cideurs politiques, aux acteurs de la conservation, aux chercheurs, aux professionnels du tourisme de vision des grands singes et aux bailleurs de fonds des recommandations en terme de meilleures pratiques pour le suivi sanitaire des grands singes et la pr&eacute;vention des maladies. Ces recommandations reprennent et mettent &agrave; jour, le cas &eacute;ch&eacute;ant, les normes ant&eacute;rieures de protection sanitaire recommand&eacute;es par Homsy (1999). Tout en reconnaissant que le risque z&eacute;ro de maladie n&rsquo;existe pas et que les mesures de pr&eacute;vention ou de contr&ocirc;le de la propagation des maladies n&rsquo;&eacute;limineront jamais le risque, ces recommandations visent principalement &agrave; minimiser, plut&ocirc;t qu&rsquo;&agrave; tenter d&rsquo;&eacute;liminer la menace de transmission de maladies des hommes aux grands singes. L&rsquo;application des meilleures pratiques pr&eacute;sent&eacute;es ici devrait r&eacute;duire substantiellement les risques que les activit&eacute;s humaines peuvent poser &agrave; la sant&eacute; des grands singes, et ce faisant, envoyer un signal clair d&rsquo;engagement vis-&agrave;-vis de la conservation des grands singes