Increasing the understanding of nutrient-transport capacity of the ovine placentome

Placental nutrient transport capacity influences fetal growth and development; however, it is affected by environmental factors, which are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of the ovine placentome morphological subtype, tissue type, and maternal parenteral supplementation of arginine mono-hydrochloride (Arg) on nutrient transport capacity using a gene expression approach. Placentomal tissues of types A, B, and C morphologic placentome subtypes were derived from 20 twin-bearing ewes, which were infused thrice daily with Arg (n = 9) or saline (Ctrl, n = 11) from 100 to 140 days of gestation. Samples were collected at day 140 of gestation. Expression of 31 genes involved in placental nutrient transport and function was investigated. Differential expression of specific amino acid transporter genes was found in the subtypes, suggesting a potential adaptive response to increase the transport capacity. Placentomal tissues differed in gene expression, highlighting differential transport capacity. Supplementation with Arg was associated with differential expressions of genes involved in amino acid transport and angiogenesis, suggesting a greater nutrient transport capacity. Collectively, these results indicate that the morphological subtype, tissue type, and maternal Arg supplementation can influence placental gene expression, which may be an adaptive response to alter the transport capacity to support fetal growth in sheep.</p

A novel, stain-free, natural auto-fluorescent signal, Sig M, identified from cytometric and transcriptomic analysis of infectivity of Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan Cryptosporidium. The primary symptom is diarrhea, but patients may exhibit different symptoms based on the species of the Cryptosporidium parasite they are infected with. Furthermore, some genotypes within species are more transmissible and apparently virulent than others. The mechanisms underpinning these differences are not understood, and an effective in vitro system for Cryptosporidium culture would help advance our understanding of these differences. Using COLO-680N cells, we employed flow cytometry and microscopy along with the C. parvum-specific antibody Sporo-Glo™ to characterize infected cells 48 h following an infection with C. parvum or C. hominis. The Cryptosporidium parvum-infected cells showed higher levels of signal using Sporo-Glo™ than C. hominis-infected cells, which was likely because Sporo-Glo™ was generated against C. parvum. We found a subset of cells from infected cultures that expressed a novel, dose-dependent auto-fluorescent signal that was detectable across a range of wavelengths. The population of cells that expressed this signal increased proportionately to the multiplicity of infection. The spectral cytometry results confirmed that the signature of this subset of host cells closely matched that of oocysts present in the infectious ecosystem, pointing to a parasitic origin. Present in both C. parvum and C. hominis cultures, we named this Sig M, and due to its distinct profile in cells from both infections, it could be a better marker for assessing Cryptosporidium infection in COLO-680N cells than Sporo-Glo™. We also noted Sig M’s impact on Sporo-Glo™ detection as Sporo-Glo™ uses fluoroscein–isothiocynate, which is detected where Sig M also fluoresces. Lastly, we used NanoString nCounter® analysis to investigate the transcriptomic landscape for the two Cryptosporidium species, assessing the gene expression of 144 host and parasite genes. Despite the host gene expression being at high levels, the levels of putative intracellular Cryptosporidium gene expression were low, with no significant difference from controls, which could be, in part, explained by the abundance of uninfected cells present as determined by both Sporo-Glo™ and Sig M analyses. This study shows for the first time that a natural auto-fluorescent signal, Sig M, linked to Cryptosporidium infection can be detected in infected host cells without any fluorescent labeling strategies and that the COLO-680N cell line and spectral cytometry could be useful tools to advance the understanding of Cryptosporidium infectivity

What We Talk About When We Talk About Inequality: An Introduction to the Journal of Management Studies Special Issue

This introduction to the Journal of Management Studies Special Issue on Inequality argues that the way we frame conversations about inequality reveals important information about how poverty and inequality have become institutionalized in modern society. We observe a distinct recent shift in the collective conversation about vulnerable populations in western society away from poverty and toward inequality. We question why this shift has occurred and who benefits from it. Drawing from the provocative papers that populate the Special Issue we describe how forms of talk can help create inequality, maintain it and holds the potential to change it. We encourage new research that adopts a holistic reintegration of poverty and inequality by attending to the ‘dirty realism’ of the violence of poverty and the dire consequences of internalized inequality.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143662/1/joms12333_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143662/2/joms12333.pd

Sources of stakeholder salience in the responsible investment movement: why do investors sign the Principles for Responsible Investment?

Since its inception in 2006, the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have grown to over 1300 signatories representing over $45 trillion. This growth is not slowing down. In this paper, we argue that there is a set of attributes which make the PRI salient as a stakeholder and its claim to sign the six PRI important to institutional investors. We use Mitchell et al.’s (Acad Manag Rev 22:853–886, 1997) theoretical framework of stakeholder salience, as extended by Gifford (J Bus Eth 92:79–97, 2010). We use as evidence confidential data from the annual survey of signatories carried out by the PRI in a 5-year period between 2007 and 2011. The findings highlight pragmatic and organizational legitimacy, normative and utilitarian power, and management values as the attributes that contribute most to the salience of the PRI as a stakeholder

The development of insecticidal baits for the control of Porina (Wiseana Spp.) : a thesis ... for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University

Investigations in the development of chipped wheat baits for porina control were carried out in the laboratory and the field. In the laboratory porina readily accepted untreated chipped wheat in the presence of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). They also accepted equally, three different sizes of wheat baits, and fed at temperatures between -2°C and 25°C. Porina accepted insecticidally treated baits in the presence of untreated wheat or white clover, however did not readily accept fungus (Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok.), infected wheat in the presence of the latter two foods. Baits were removed by porina from around their burrow mouths when applied to the surface of turfs held under controlled conditions. The number of baits removed per active porina was related to the density applied. Field trials demonstrated that insecticidally treated baits, of the smallest size (528 chips/g. dry weight), being the most cost-efficient gave comparable mortalities to conventional spray applications. After 10 days fenitrothion spray (0.9 Kg ai/ha) gave 95% control of porina populations, and with fenitrothion treated baits (0.13 Kg ai/ha) applied at 1 chip/6.25 cm 2 the control achieved was 83%. At a lower bait density (1 chip/25 cm 2) a significant increase in mortality was seen between 10 and 30 days. The addition of a molluscicide onto a treated bait increased its efficiency by 10%. Applying baits infected with the fungus Metarrhizium resulted in 53% mortality of porina. The optimal bait density was shown to be one wheat chip/12.5 cm 2, and the optimal dosage of fenitrothion 0.4% ai/g. dry weight of wheat. The cost of bait treatment, including application costs, for porina control was $15/ha, compared to$46/ha for spraying