SDSU Calf Value Discovery 2011 Summary Report

The Calf Value Discovery Program (CVD) allows cow-calf producers to gain knowledge of the finishing segment of the beef cattle industry and the marketing of fed cattle. Specifically, CVD provides an opportunity for cow-calf producers to learn how their calves perform in a feedlot and their carcass value when sold in a value-based marketing system. Each producer taking part in the program could consign a minimum of 5 steers weighing between 500 and 800 pounds to the CVD program. Animals were finished in a calf-fed program using typical diets and management protocols at VanderWal Yards (Bruce, SD). Carcass and feedlot performance information from calves were returned to producers for use in making future management decisions to improve profitability

Exhaled nitric oxide measurements with dynamic flow restriction in children aged 4-8 yrs

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration (FENO) depends on exhalation flow; however, children often are unable to perform controlled flow procedures. Therefore, a device was developed for off-line FENO sampling, with dynamic flow restriction (DFR). The authors compared off-line w

Maitotoxin-4, a Novel MTX Analog Produced by Gambierdiscus excentricus

Maitotoxins (MTXs) are among the most potent toxins known. These toxins are produced by epi-benthic dinoflagellates of the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa and may play a role in causing the symptoms associated with Ciguatera Fish Poisoning. A recent survey revealed that, of the species tested, the newly described species from the Canary Islands, G. excentricus, is one of the most maitotoxic. The goal of the present study was to characterize MTX-related compounds produced by this species. Initially, lysates of cells from two Canary Island G. excentricus strains VGO791 and VGO792 were partially purified by (i) liquid-liquid partitioning between dichloromethane and aqueous methanol followed by (ii) size-exclusion chromatography. Fractions from chromatographic separation were screened for MTX toxicity using both the neuroblastoma neuro-2a (N2a) cytotoxicity and Ca2+ flux functional assays. Fractions containing MTX activity were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to pinpoint potential MTX analogs. Subsequent non-targeted HRMS analysis permitted the identification of a novel MTX analog, maitotoxin-4 (MTX4, accurate mono-isotopic mass of 3292.4860 Da, as free acid form) in the most toxic fractions. HRMS/MS spectra of MTX4 as well as of MTX are presented. In addition, crude methanolic extracts of five other strains of G. excentricus and 37 other strains representing one Fukuyoa species and ten species, one ribotype and one undetermined strain/species of Gambierdiscus were screened for the presence of MTXs using low resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LRMS/MS). This targeted analysis indicated the original maitotoxin (MTX) was only present in one strain (G. australes S080911_1). Putative maitotoxin-2 (p-MTX2) and maitotoxin-3 (p-MTX3) were identified in several other species, but confirmation was not possible because of the lack of reference material. Maitotoxin-4 was detected in all seven strains of G. excentricus examined, independently of their origin (Brazil, Canary Islands and Caribbean), and not detected in any other species. MTX4 may therefore serve as a biomarker for the highly toxic G. excentricus in the Atlantic area

Long-term exposures to air pollution and the risk of atrial fibrillation in the women’s health initiative cohort

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Short-term exposures to air pollution have been associated with AF triggering; less is known regarding associations between long-term air pollution exposures and AF incidence. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess the association between long-term exposures to air pollution and distance to road on incidence of AF in a cohort of U.S. women. METHODS: We assessed the association of high resolution spatiotemporal model predictions of long-term exposures to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2:5 ), sulfur dioxide (SO2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), and distance to major roads with incidence of AF diagnosis, identified through Medicare link-age, among 83,117 women in the prospective Women’s Health Initiative cohort, followed from enrollment in Medicare through December 2012, incidence of AF, or death. Using time-varying Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, study component, body mass index, physical activity, menopausal hormone therapy, smoking, diet quality, alcohol consumption, educational attainment, and neighborhood socioeconomic status, we estimated the relative risk of incident AF in association with each pollutant. RESULTS: A total of 16,348 incident AF cases were observed over 660,236 person-years of follow-up. Most exposure–response associations were non-linear. NO2 was associated with risk of AF in multivariable adjusted models [Hazard Ratio ðHRÞ = 1:18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 1.24, comparing the top to bottom quartile, p-for-trend = < 0:0001]. Women living closer to roadways were at higher risk of AF (e.g., HR = 1:07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.13 for living within 50 m of A3 roads, compared with ≥1,000 m, p-for-trend = 0:02), but we did not observe adverse associations with exposures to PM10, PM2:5, or SO2 . There were adverse associations with PM10 (top quartile HR = 1:10; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.16, p-for-trend = &lt; 0:0001) and PM2:5 (top quartile HR = 1:09; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.14, p-for-trend = 0:002) in sensitivity models adjusting for census region. DISCUSSION: In this study of postmenopausal women, NO2 and distance to road were consistently associated with higher risk of AF. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7683

The ν6 Band System of C3O2 Near 540 cm-11

The infrared spectrum of the ν6 band system of carbon suboxide, C3O2, has been recorded between 500 and 600 cm-1 at a resolution of 0.002 cm-1. Altogether 23 bands have been assigned. They correspond to transitions ν6 + nν7 ← nν7, n ≤ 9, where ν6 is the asymmetric CCO bending mode and ν7 is the very anharmonic CCC bending mode. Among these bands, 20 have been rotationally analyzed and 1220 lines assigned. The line positions were fitted to effective parameters which characterize these 20 vibrational levels in the ν6 state. The results of the fits were then fitted so a semirigid bender model in order to determine the effective CCC bending potential function in the ν6 state. © 1994 Academic Press. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe