Comparison of cortisol samples in the first two weeks of life in preterm infants

Background: Growing literature on negative childhood stress emphasizes the need to understand cortisol values from varying biomarker samples. Objective: This work aimed to examine cortisol samples for usability, associations, and individual stability in neonates. Subjects: The sample consisted of preterm infants (n=31). Materials and methods: Analyses on cortisol collected from cord blood and from saliva and urine samples on days 1, 7, and 14 included Spearman correlations and paired t-tests. Results: Usability rates were 80.6% (cord blood), 85.9% (saliva), and 93.5% (urine). Salivary and urinary cortisol levels had significant correlation on day 1 only (p=0.004). Significant differences in individual stability of cortisol concentrations existed except in urine on days 1 and 7 and in saliva on days 7 and 14. Conclusions: Usability was highest for urine samples. We found little correlation between cortisol sample levels at each time; individual stability of cortisol concentrations was minimal. Interpretation of cortisol findings in all studies should be performed cautiously

Fertility and Forage Yield of Sorghum X Sudangrass Hybrids in A1 and A3 Cytoplasm

Most sorghum x sudangrass hybrids are currently produced in Al male-sterile cytoplasm. Availability of alternative cytoplasmic sterility systems allows production of sorghum x sudangrass hybrids that may have superior forage characteristics. A study was conducted to compare the agronomic performance of Al and A3 sorghum x sudangrass hybrids. A bulk of eight sudangrass populations was used to pollinate four grain sorghum inbreds normally used as females that had been sterilized in both Al and A3 cytoplasm, and two inbreds normally used as males that had been sterilized in A3 cytoplasm. The hybrids were evaluated in 1990. Results indicate that male-sterile sorghum x sudangrass hybrids can be made using A3 cytoplasm male-sterilized inbreds from the heterotic pool of inbreds normally used as pollinators. Additionally, the high level of fertility restoration by sudangrass in A3 cytoplasm male-sterilized sorghum normally used as females indicates that sudangrass may contribute much needed A3 restorers to the sorghum industry

Notes: Interpretive Analysis for Forage Yield Trial Data

Forage cultivar evaluation is often done in small plots with multiple harvests throughout the growing season. Data is often summarized by presenting a yearly total yield for each cultivar in addition to the mean for each harvest date. Data summarization often becomes burdensome and difficult to interpret. Regressing yield against a growth index associated with harvest dates can be utilized to describe forage performance in a concise and easily interpreted format. Subsets of data from tall fescue (Festuca amndinacea Schreb.) yield trials conducted in Alabama and Kentucky were used to demonstrate the technique. The analysis involves regressing yield of a cultivar against an index calculated as the mean of all entries at a harvest date minus the grand mean. The resulting regression coefficient (b) describes cultivar yield response over several harvests and is indicative of performance under variable growth conditions

Fertility and Forage Yield of Sorghum X Sudangrass Hybrids in A1 and A3 Cytoplasm

Most sorghum x sudangrass hybrids are currently produced in Al male-sterile cytoplasm. Availability of alternative cytoplasmic sterility systems allows production of sorghum x sudangrass hybrids that may have superior forage characteristics. A study was conducted to compare the agronomic performance of Al and A3 sorghum x sudangrass hybrids. A bulk of eight sudangrass populations was used to pollinate four grain sorghum inbreds normally used as females that had been sterilized in both Al and A3 cytoplasm, and two inbreds normally used as males that had been sterilized in A3 cytoplasm. The hybrids were evaluated in 1990. Results indicate that male-sterile sorghum x sudangrass hybrids can be made using A3 cytoplasm male-sterilized inbreds from the heterotic pool of inbreds normally used as pollinators. Additionally, the high level of fertility restoration by sudangrass in A3 cytoplasm male-sterilized sorghum normally used as females indicates that sudangrass may contribute much needed A3 restorers to the sorghum industry

Tubulin cofactors and Arl2 are cage-like chaperones that regulate the soluble αβ-tubulin pool for microtubule dynamics.

Microtubule dynamics and polarity stem from the polymerization of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. Five conserved tubulin cofactors/chaperones and the Arl2 GTPase regulate α- and β-tubulin assembly into heterodimers and maintain the soluble tubulin pool in the cytoplasm, but their physical mechanisms are unknown. Here, we reconstitute a core tubulin chaperone consisting of tubulin cofactors TBCD, TBCE, and Arl2, and reveal a cage-like structure for regulating αβ-tubulin. Biochemical assays and electron microscopy structures of multiple intermediates show the sequential binding of αβ-tubulin dimer followed by tubulin cofactor TBCC onto this chaperone, forming a ternary complex in which Arl2 GTP hydrolysis is activated to alter αβ-tubulin conformation. A GTP-state locked Arl2 mutant inhibits ternary complex dissociation in vitro and causes severe defects in microtubule dynamics in vivo. Our studies suggest a revised paradigm for tubulin cofactors and Arl2 functions as a catalytic chaperone that regulates soluble αβ-tubulin assembly and maintenance to support microtubule dynamics

Brown· Midrib Sorghum Silage for Midlactation Dairy Cows

Brown midrib sorghum silage was compared with alfalfa, corn, and normal sorghum silages for its effect on performance, ruminal metabolism, and digestive kinetics of Holstein dairy cows in midlactation. Twelve cows averaging 90 ± 5 DIM were assigned to one of four diets in replicated 4 X 4 Latin squares with 4-wk periods. Additionally, 3 ruminally fistulated cows (95 ± 20 DIM) were assigned to the same diets in a 3x 4 Youden square for measurement of ruminal characteristics. Diets were fed as isonitrogenous TMR that contained 65% silage (OM basis). The DMl was greater for the corn and brown midrib sorghum (4% of BW/d) than for the alfalfa and normal sorghum diets (3.4% of BW/d). The brown midrib sorghum supported FCM production that was similar to that of cows on corn and alfalfa diets (25.8 kg/d), but cows fed normal sorghum produced less milk and fewer milk components. Source of silage had no effect on eating time, but rumination was least for the alfalfa.diet.. Ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations were similar for all diets. Total VFA concentrations were greatest for the corn and brown midrib sorghum diets. The brown midrib sorghum had greater in situ extent of ruminal NDF digestion than did the normal sorghum, which agreed with in vitro data. The brown midrib sorghum used in this experiment supported FCM production similar to the corn and alfalfa silages commonly fed to dairy cows in midlactation

Brown· Midrib Sorghum Silage for Midlactation Dairy Cows

Brown midrib sorghum silage was compared with alfalfa, corn, and normal sorghum silages for its effect on performance, ruminal metabolism, and digestive kinetics of Holstein dairy cows in midlactation. Twelve cows averaging 90 ± 5 DIM were assigned to one of four diets in replicated 4 X 4 Latin squares with 4-wk periods. Additionally, 3 ruminally fistulated cows (95 ± 20 DIM) were assigned to the same diets in a 3x 4 Youden square for measurement of ruminal characteristics. Diets were fed as isonitrogenous TMR that contained 65% silage (OM basis). The DMl was greater for the corn and brown midrib sorghum (4% of BW/d) than for the alfalfa and normal sorghum diets (3.4% of BW/d). The brown midrib sorghum supported FCM production that was similar to that of cows on corn and alfalfa diets (25.8 kg/d), but cows fed normal sorghum produced less milk and fewer milk components. Source of silage had no effect on eating time, but rumination was least for the alfalfa.diet.. Ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations were similar for all diets. Total VFA concentrations were greatest for the corn and brown midrib sorghum diets. The brown midrib sorghum had greater in situ extent of ruminal NDF digestion than did the normal sorghum, which agreed with in vitro data. The brown midrib sorghum used in this experiment supported FCM production similar to the corn and alfalfa silages commonly fed to dairy cows in midlactation

Seasonal Change in Countermovement Jump Performance in NCAA Women’s Golfers

Background of Study: The countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) task has been reported to have positive associations with golf-specific performance variables. Additionally, the CMJ is commonly used to assess neuromuscular fatigue in athletic populations. Objective: Thus, this investigation sought to examine the changes in CMJ performance throughout a competitive season in NCAA collegiate women’s golfers. Methods: Using a longitudinal study design, six collegiate women golfers completed three sessions (pre, mid, and post) of CMJ testing during the spring competition period. During each testing session, two successful jump trials were collected using a portable force platform sampling at 1000 Hz. During each trial, an arm swing was restricted by the use of a dowel placed across the upper back. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine if differences were present between testing sessions. Results: Propulsive net impulse significantly increased from pre to mid (p 0.05) and pre to post (p 0.05). No other variables showed a statistically significant change over the duration of the study, though moderate effect size increases were in countermovement depth from pre to mid-testing (0.73) and jump height from pre to post-testing (0.72). Conclusions: These findings support previous findings of an increase in vertical jump performance over the course of a season in collegiate golfers, though strategies for maximal performance may shift

Hybrid near-field scanning optical microscopy tips for live cell measurements

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1737464.We report a near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) probe that enables high-resolution imaging of living cells under physiological buffered conditions. The hybrid design combines a conventional fiber optic near-field probe with a standard atomic force microscopy cantilever. Imaging of fluorescent latex spheres suspended in an acetate matrix demonstrates the subdiffraction limited fluorescence and topography capabilities of the tips. The reduced spring constant of the hybrid tip is also shown to be amenable to measurements on living cells. NSOM fluorescence and topography measurements on living human arterial smooth muscle cells under buffered conditions are demonstrated

Effect of active immunization against growth hormone releasing factor on concentrations of somatotropin and insulin-like growth factor I in lactating beef cows

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of immunoneutralization of growth hormone-releasing factor [GRF(1–29)-NH2] on concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in lactating beef cows. In Experiment 1, multiparous Hereford cows were immunized against 2 mg GRF(1–29)-(Gly)4-Cys-NH2 conjugated to human serum albumin (GRFi, n=3) or 2 mg human serum albumin (HSAi, n=3) at 52 ± 1 d prior to parturition. Boosters (1 mg) were administered on days 12, 40 and 114 postpartum (pp). Serum samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 5 hr on days 18, 46 and 120 pp, followed by administration (IV) of an opioid agonist (FK33-824; 10 μg/kg) and an antagonist (naloxone; .5 mg/kg) at hours 5 and 7, respectively. A GRF-analog ([desamino-Tyr1, D-Ala2, Ala15] GRF (1–29)-NH2; 3.5 μg/kg) and arginine (.5 g/kg) were administered at hour 10 on days 47 and 121, respectively. Percentage binding of [125I]GRF (1:100 dilution of serum) 28 d after primary immunization was greater in GRFi (14.3 ± 4.9) than in HSAi (.7 ± .3) cows. Binding increased to 29.3 ± 6.5% after first booster in GRFi cows. Episodic release of ST was abolished by immunization against GRF; concentration and frequency of release of ST were lower (P125I]GRF, absence of pulsatile release of ST, low concentrations of ST and IGF-I and failure of ST to increase after IV opioid agonist or arginine