Swine Housing Impacts on Environment and Behavior: A comparison between hoop structures and total environmental control

The effect of housing on animal environment and behavior have been studied in a comparative trial with three deep-bedded hoop structures and one totally, environmentally- controlled slatted-floor building. In order to assess animal welfare, behavior indicative of both poor and rich welfare were quantified. Behavior indicative of poor welfare were considered to be the performance of aberrant behavior, stereotypical behavior and excessive fighting. Behaviors indicative of rich behavior were the performance of normal maintenance behaviors and play behavior. Hoop structures experienced lower winter air temperatures than did the confinement building (mean, 4.8 0 vs. 18.1 0 C), but effective temperatures for the animals were enhanced in the hoop structure by heat generated by the decomposing bedded pack (ranging from approximately –1.1 0 C to 47 0 C). The confinement building maintained a higher ammonia level than did the hoop structures. Pigs raised in the confinement system which did use bedding were found to be resting more often (P \u3c .03); however, they were also found to perform more aberrant and stereotypical behavior in addition to more frequent fighting (P \u3c .03). Pigs raised in the hoop structure were found to perform more play behavior than confinement raised pigs (P \u3c .03). Based on the greater incidence of aberrant, stereotyped, and agonistic behavior of confinement pigs and the greater incidence of play behavior by hoop raised pigs; the welfare of hoop raised pigs is considered to be richer than that of confinement raised pigs. The major contributing factor to explain this is likely the provision of bedding, which allows the pigs an opportunity to perform species typical behavior

Socioeconomic and environmental proxies for comparing freshwater ecosystem service threats across international sites: A diagnostic approach

In this work, we develop and test proxy-based diagnostic tools for comparing freshwater ecosystem services (FWES) risks across an international array of freshwater ecosystems. FWES threats are increasing rapidly under pressure from population, climate change, pollution, land use change, and other factors. We identified spatially explicit FWES threats estimates (referred to as threat benchmarks) and extracted watershed-specific values for an array of aquatic ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere (Ramsar sites). We compared these benchmark values to values extracted for sites associated with an international FWES threat investigation. The resulting benchmark threats appeared to provide a meaningful context for the diagnostic assessment of study site selection by revealing gaps in coverage of the underlying socio-environmental problem. In an effort to simplify the method, we tested regularly updated environmental and socioeconomic metrics as potential proxies for the benchmark threats using regression analysis. Three category proxies, aggregated from (i) external (global to regional, climate-related), (ii) internal (watershed management-related), and (iii) socioeconomic and governance related proxies produced strong relationships with water supply threat benchmarks, but only weak relationships with biodiversity-related and nutrient regulation benchmark threats. Our results demonstrate the utility of advancing global FWES status and threat benchmarks for organizing coordinated research efforts and prioritizing decisions with regard to international socio-environmental problems

Pediatric transplantation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75084/1/j.1600-6143.3.s4.6.x.pd

Bourbon Virus in Wild and Domestic Animals, Missouri, USA, 2012–2013

Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first isolated from a febrile patient with a history of tick bites in Bourbon County, Kansas, USA; the patient later died from severe illness in 2014 (1). Several additional human BRBV infections were reported subsequently from the midwestern and southern United States (2). BRBV belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae, genus Thogotovirus, which is distributed worldwide and includes Araguari, Aransas Bay, Dhori, Jos, Thogoto, and Upolu viruses (1,3). Thogoto and Dhori viruses have been associated with human disease (4–6). Viruses within the genus Thogotovirus have been associated with hard or soft ticks (7). Recent studies suggest that the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is involved with BRBV transmission (2,3,8). These ticks feed primarily on mammals, which might play a role in BRBV ecolog

Python game design for children: Games and programming resources

This project is focused on helping middle and high school students learn how to program and think computationally. We are creating a set of resources that will be used by the students to understand programming, Python, and PyGames concepts. These resources will be used for teaching the two one-week summer camps through Clemson University\u27s Pre-Collegiate programs in June and July 2014. This camp has been offered at Georgia Tech and Clemson University for two summers using a drag and drop visual programming language to help students create games. The instructors have found that the camp attendees do not find the visual programming language to be challenging enough. Thus, we are designing curricula to teach introductory computing concepts with the Python and PyGames programming languages in a fun and creative way and to give students the opportunity to learn to design and program their own games. We are also designing and creating our own games as a way to learn the language and have examples for the kids in the camp to build upon. This project was initiated this semester and we will pilot resources this summer during the two weeks of camp. We will showcase the initial games and resources created for this project

Quantum Fluctuations in Large-Spin Molecules

A new type of mesoscopic quantum effect in large-spin molecules possessing easy-axis anisotropy, such as Mn12, is predicted. The response of such a system to an external field applied perpendicular to the easy axis is considered. It is shown that the susceptibility of this system exhibits a peculiar peak of purely quantum origin. This effect arises from very general properties of quantum fluctuations in spin systems. We demonstrate that the effect is entirely accessible for contemporary experimental techniques. Our studies show that the many-spin nature of the Mn12 clusters is important for a correct description of this quantum peak.Comment: REVTeX, 3 pages, 6 figures (postscript

West Nile Virus Isolated from a Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) in Northwestern Missouri, USA, 2012

We describe the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) from blood of a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) collected in northwestern Missouri, USA in August 2012. Sequencing determined that the virus was related to lineage 1a WNV02 strains. We discuss the role of wildlife in WNV disease epidemiology

Association of Polymorphisms in Natural Killer Cell-Related Genes With Preterm Birth

Inflammation is implicated in preterm birth, but genetic studies of inflammatory genes have yielded inconsistent results. Maternal DNA from 1,646 participants in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Cohort, enrolled in Orange and Wake counties, North Carolina (1995–2005), were genotyped for 432 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 30 candidate genes. Gene-level and SNP associations were modeled within strata of genetic ancestry. Six genes were associated with preterm birth among European Americans: interleukin 12A (IL12A); colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2); interferon γ receptor 2 (IFNGR2); killer cell immunoglobulin–like receptor, three domain, long cytoplasmic tail, 2 (KIR3DL2); interleukin 4 (IL4); and interleukin 13 (IL13). Of these, relatively strong single-SNP associations were seen in IFNGR2 and KIR3DL2. Among the 4 genes related to natural killer cell function, 2 (IL12A and CSF2) were consistently associated with reduced risk of prematurity for both European and African Americans. SNPs tagging a locus control region for IL4 and IL13 were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth for European Americans (rs3091307; risk ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.5). Although gene-level associations were detected only in European Americans, single-SNP associations among European and African Americans were often similar in direction, though estimated with less precision among African Americans. In conclusion, we identified novel associations between variants in the natural killer cell immune pathway and prematurity in this biracial US population

Polymorphisms in Inflammatory Genes are Associated with Term Small for Gestational Age and Preeclampsia

Inflammatory biomarkers are associated with preeclampsia (PE) and poor fetal growth; however, genetic epidemiologic studies have been limited by reduced gene coverage and the exclusion of African American mothers

PPAR alpha L162V underlies variation in serum triglycerides and subcutaneous fat volume in young males

Background: Of the five sub-phenotypes defining metabolic syndrome, all are known to have strong genetic components ( typically 50 - 80% of population variation). Studies defining genetic predispositions have typically focused on older populations with metabolic syndrome and/or type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that the study of younger populations would mitigate many confounding variables, and allow us to better define genetic predisposition loci for metabolic syndrome. Methods: We studied 610 young adult volunteers ( average age 24 yrs) for metabolic syndrome markers, and volumetric MRI of upper arm muscle, bone, and fat pre- and post-unilateral resistance training. Results: We found the PPARa L162V polymorphism to be a strong determinant of serum triglyceride levels in young White males, where carriers of the V allele showed 78% increase in triglycerides relative to L homozygotes ( LL = 116 +/- 11 mg/ dL, LV = 208 +/- 30 mg/ dL; p = 0.004). Men with the V allele showed lower HDL ( LL = 42 +/- 1 mg/ dL, LV = 34 +/- 2 mg/ dL; p = 0.001), but women did not. Subcutaneous fat volume was higher in males carrying the V allele, however, exercise training increased fat volume of the untrained arm in V carriers, while LL genotypes significantly decreased in fat volume ( LL = - 1,707 +/- 21 mm(3), LV = 17,617 +/- 58 mm(3); p = 0.002), indicating a systemic effect of the V allele on adiposity after unilateral training. Our study suggests that the primary effect of PPARa L162V is on serum triglycerides, with downstream effects on adiposity and response to training. Conclusion: Our results on association of PPARa and triglycerides in males showed a much larger effect of the V allele than previously reported in older and less healthy populations. Specifically, we showed the V allele to increase triglycerides by 78% ( p = 0.004), and this single polymorphism accounted for 3.8% of all variation in serum triglycerides in males ( p = 0.0037)